Apprenticeship Funding Explained

Your guide to how apprenticeship funding works 

1.

We can help you understand the complexities of apprenticeship funding

2.

We’re an established training provider on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

3.

We work with large employers and SME's to get the most from apprenticeship funding 

What apprenticeship funding is available? 

The government have designed the Apprenticeship Levy to make apprenticeship funding accessible to all employers in England regardless of size or revenue. The Apprenticeship Levy is made up of funds paid in by businesses based on their annual wage bill, however not all employers will need to pay into the levy. 

If you are a large employer with a wage bill of £3m or more, you will contribute 0.5% of your annual wage bill into the Apprenticeship Levy to fund training. 

Apprenticeship funding for non-levy employers

If you are an employer with a wage bill of less than £3m, you are classed as a non-levy employer and can receive funding towards the cost of training apprentices.

Read on to find out more about how apprenticeship funding works for your size of organisation.

Access apprenticeship funding

Complete the form below and we’ll help you with everything you need to know about funding apprenticeships.

You can read more information about how Total People uses your personal information by reading our privacy policy here.

Understanding the apprenticeship levy

Your business falls into one of two categories based on your wage bill.

Companies that spend more than £3 million on their wage bill are levy paying.

Levy Gifting

Those with wage bills less than £3 million are called co-investors.

SME Support
  • 0.5%

    of your payroll goes to the HMRC towards the levy.

  • 25%

    of your levy funds can also be transferred or ‘gifted’, to support smaller, non-levy organisations.

  • £15k

    allowance to offset against your levy.

  • 24 Months

    time limit to spend your levy before its returned to HMRC.

  • 12 Months

    minimum duration of apprenticeship training.

  • £4.30

    minimum hourly wage for apprentices.

  • 30 hours

    minimum weekly working hours for apprentices.

  • £1000

    grant per 16-18yr old apprentice.

  • 5%

    of co-investment is paid by you, the employer.

  • 95%

    of co-investment is paid by the Government.

  • Reserve Funding

    all non-levy employers must reserve government-employer co-investment for apprenticeships via an Apprenticeship Service account.

  • >50

    more than 50 employees? You will be eligible for 95% funding for apprentices aged 16+.

  • <50

    Fewer than 50 employees? You will be eligible for 100% funding for apprentices aged 16-18. For apprentices aged 19+ you will receive 95% of funding.

  • £4.15

    minimum hourly wage for apprentices.

  • 30 hours

    minimum weekly working hours for apprentices.

  • £1000

    grant per 16-18yr old apprentice.

Reserve your apprenticeship funding

The Government is changing the way non-levy employers access apprenticeship funding. All employers must now register for an Apprenticeship Service account to manage all aspects of their apprenticeship funding.

Find out more

Case Studies

We work with businesses of all shapes and sizes, helping them to make the most of apprenticeships and work-based learning.

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Get in touch

Whether you’d like to know more about a specific apprenticeship or ask a question, we’re here to help.

 

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Resources

Here are some resources to help guide you as an employer.

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