Employers who are considering hiring employees or offering work experience could be entitled to funding and grants to cover all or part of the costs to ensure businesses are able to develop their workforce at a minimum cost and continue to thrive.
Create an apprenticeship service account so you can:
- Access and manage apprenticeship funding
- Set up and approve apprentices
- Advertise roles on the find an apprenticeship service
- Approve training costs
- Check payments to training providers
- Give training providers permission to carry out some tasks on your behalf
- Give feedback on apprenticeship training
Supporting SMEs in the Solent region with skills training
Eastleigh College has already enabled thousands of employers in the local business community to secure funding and grants for delivering apprenticeships, NVQs and VRQs. We are also able to offer economies of scale on enrolments for multiple learners and will do everything possible to deliver the highest standard of training at the best price.
We work closely with the team of expert advisers at The Solent Apprenticeship Hub. The Hub offers free, impartial and practical advice to help businesses grow through tailored skills solutions for new and existing staff. The Hub is funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and supported by Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, Portsmouth University, Solent University.
The Hub manages the Transfer to Transform scheme providing an opportunity for large businesses to reduce wastage of their unspent apprenticeship levy and to demonstrate corporate social responsibility by supporting the creation of apprenticeships for local people.
Get ready to use the Apprenticeship Service by April 2021
From April 2021, all apprenticeships will be arranged by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) through the apprenticeship service. The Apprenticeship Service gives smaller employers, who do not pay the apprenticeship levy, greater control over their apprenticeship choices. They need to use the service to reserve funding to cover the costs of apprenticeship training and assessment.
Further information
The following links open in new windows:
- Information about employing an apprentice and how apprenticeship funding works
- Employers need to create an Apprenticeship Service account and reserve funding before they hire a new apprentice.
- Employers can claim incentive payments up to 31 January 2022 if they hire a new apprentice.
- A range of financial incentives are available for employers who are considering hiring employees or offering work experience
- Education & Skills Funding Agency information videos
- To help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace for supported interns, find out about the Department for Work and Pensions' Access to Work funding
For more information on funding available, call 023 8091 1000 or email bebetter@eastleigh.ac.uk.