Research and analysis

Apprenticeship grant for employers: evaluation

Evaluation of the ‘AGE 16 to 24’ programme during its first year of operation. BIS research paper number 157.

Documents

Data - Employers with AGE apprentices

Data - Employers that complained to NAS

Details

Research on the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds, also known as the ‘AGE 16 to 24’ programme, which supports businesses to recruit young apprentices. The programme provides grants to employers with an individual value of £1,500, subject to eligibility and availability.

This report describes the findings of research, which involved talking with participating employers, government agencies and training organisations involved in the administration of the grant. All aspects of the policy are covered, from the way it was run, whether the grant amount was set at the right level, to satisfaction with the learning and training.

The grant was especially targeted to small and medium sized employers and those that had never taken on an apprentice before. The evaluation shows that 80% of grants were given to businesses that employed up to 25 people, and 85% of the grants went to employers that have never had an apprentice before.

On the basis of the positive findings of this evaluation, BIS has decided to extend the programme to December 2014.

Published 5 December 2013
Last updated 13 December 2013 + show all updates
  1. Added data files on employers with AGE apprentices, employers that complained to NAS and employers not progressing with application.

  2. First published.