ApprenticeshipsOpening doors to a better future

2010-01-28
Member News

The National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds (AGE 16 and 17) with a value of £2,500 to encourage employers to take on unemployed 16-17 year olds as apprentices.

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Last year, despite tough labour market conditions, over 70,000 16 and 17 year olds started an Apprenticeship. Despite this there are still many more young people who want to learn whilst they are in work and we are determined to make sure that the opportunities are there for them to do so.


We are introducing a new Apprenticeship Grant: AGE 16 and 17, of £2,500 to enable employers to offer 5,000 new Apprenticeship places and take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old apprentice immediately. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which is met by the National Apprenticeship Service.


Which employers can benefit from AGE 16 and 17?

Our aim is to support employers to offer new and additional places in support of young people. Therefore we are targeting those employers who would not otherwise have been in a position to recruit an apprentice at this point in time or who are able to offer more Apprenticeship places than they would otherwise have done. We particularly want to support small and medium sized employers who are interested in employing an apprentice for this first time, or who want to employ an additional apprentice over their traditional level of recruitment. We can support larger employers where they can demonstrate that they are overtraining to support smaller employers in their supply chain/the wider sector or recruiting in excess of their traditional levels of apprentice recruitment.


When will AGE 16 and 17 be available?

The grant will be available immediately. We recognise the particular issues faced by young people in the current economic climate and we want to support them and ensure that we are training a new generation for economic recovery. This initiative is a short-term (available until the end of March 2010) measure and is available now for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to an unemployed young person aged 16 or 17.


Employers will receive a quick response, either through the National Apprenticeship Service, or through their training provider, on whether the Apprenticeship Grant is available. All training providers who hold a contract to deliver Apprenticeships with the LSC are able to offer this incentive to employers.


How will employers receive the grant?

The payments will be administered by the National Apprenticeship Service through our approved training provider network who will manage the payments and paperwork. Employers will receive the grant in two payments - £1,500 when the young person starts their Apprenticeship and a further £1,000 after 12 weeks.


The National Apprenticeship Service will help employers to find a suitable training provider to deliver the training programme and to recruit an apprentice.


Employers will be asked to sign an agreement which commits them to employing a new or additional apprentice in paid employment for the duration of the Apprenticeship training programme. Employers will pay the apprentice at least the minimum Apprenticeship wage of £95 per week, including off the job training. If the apprentice leaves early, the employer will be asked to repay a proportion of the grant.


Which young people are eligible?

All 16 and 17 year olds who are not in employment and not already on an Apprenticeship programme are eligible. This includes those who may have had a place in a college or school but have subsequently dropped out. The young person will need to have been recruited and in work before the end of March 2010.


16 and 17 year olds not in full-time education have seen the largest absolute fall in their employment rate since the start of the recession but we know through Connexions that a significant proportion of their 16 and 17 year old customers are interested in looking for work. This scheme will give these enthusiastic young people the opportunity to work for successful companies like yours.


We can also advertise your vacancy on Apprenticeship vacancies – our online service that matches candidates interested in an Apprenticeship with employers offering them.


To apply for AGE 16 and 17 is simple and straightforward.

If you would like to express your interest in receiving support through AGE 16 and 17 please contact the National Apprenticeship Service, either by completing the online enquiry form or by calling 08000 150 600 and please mention ‘AGE 16 and 17’.


You’ll then receive a follow-up call from one of our advisers, where you will be able to discuss AGE 16 and 17 in more detail.