Employing an apprentice
Get help to pay for apprenticeship training
You can get help from the government to pay for apprenticeship training.
You can get money to go towards the cost of training and assessment up to the funding band maximum. The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not.
Find out if you need to pay the apprenticeship levy.
You might also be able to get extra payments for employing an apprentice depending on their age and circumstances.
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy
The government will pay 100% of the cost (up to the funding band maximum) of training and assessing an apprentice if they are:
- aged 16 to 24
- aged 15 if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Friday of June and 31 August
For all other apprentices, you pay 5% towards the cost of training and assessing your apprentice. You need to:
- agree a payment schedule with the training provider
- pay them directly for the training
The government will pay the rest (95%) up to the funding band maximum. They’ll pay it directly to the training provider.
Use your apprenticeship service account to manage funding and provider payments.
If you pay the apprenticeship levy
You’ll get funds to spend on training and assessing your apprentices.
If you’ve already used all your funds, the government will pay 100% of the cost of training and assessing an apprentice if they are:
- aged 16 to 24
- aged 15 if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Friday of June and 31 August
For all other apprentices, you pay 25% towards the cost. The government will pay the rest (75%) up to the funding band maximum. You need to:
- agree a payment schedule with the training provider
- pay them directly for the training
Find out how to pay the apprenticeship levy.
Use your apprenticeship service account to manage funding and provider payments.
You cannot use funds from your apprenticeship service account to pay for a flexi-job apprenticeship agency’s services.
Apprentices who need access to learning support
Learning support funding is available to cover the training provider’s costs for making reasonable adjustments. Check the funding rules to find out if you’re eligible.