A support grant is being piloted by CITB for small businesses taking on apprenticeships to help with initial costs.
As trialled in the new CITB Business Plan announced in May, a £500 apprentice support grant is available for employers who either pay no levy, or pay the reduced rate of levy, for every apprentice that has started college or with another training provider, from August 1, 2019.
The aim is to encourage employers to take on an apprentice who may not otherwise have done so.
This boost is a part of CITB’s commitment to ensure there is a talent pool sufficient to meet the needs of construction and is in addition to significant increases in apprenticeship grant, which has seen a three-year apprenticeship package achieving 2 levels increase from £10,250 to £14,500.
Who can apply?
- Employers whose new apprentice started at college or with another training provider from 1 August 2019
- Employers who have a combined PAYE and Net CIS sub-contractor wage bill of below £400,000 as declared on their 2019 Levy Return
- Employers whose levy details and payments are up to date
- Newly registered employers
Mark Noonan, CITB industry relations director, said: “We know how important apprentices are to the construction industry, and through our conversations with employers last year we know that taking on an apprentice is costly, especially for smaller businesses.
“By helping to add apprentices to supply chains, this helps to ensure there is a talent pool sufficient to meet the needs of construction.”
Employers can claim for every eligible apprentice – applicants need to apply within 20 weeks of their apprentice starting at college or with another training provider.
For more information, visit the new apprentice support grant page on the CITB website.
