The Welsh Government has launched a £40 million skills and jobs fund which will help incentivise employers to take on and train new workers, including Apprentices and young people. It is hoped that these financial incentives will encourage the creation of up to 6,000 Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships have a vital role in supporting the recovery of the economy and in supporting those most likely to be negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19. Investment in upskilling and reskilling existing staff will be vital to ensure that businesses have the necessary capability and skills in their workforce to recover and transform their business, to adapt to changing markets and implement new business models.
As we start to come out of lockdown, the real effects on the local and national economy are going to become more evident and it will continue to be a challenging time. There is a need to continue to build and position Apprenticeships with businesses across Wales and to promote the benefits that Apprentices bring. They are looking to target those businesses that have slowed down during this period and will need to re-group and re-energise by injecting fresh, new talent into the business as well as targeting those sectors that have longevity and businesses that can offer Apprenticeships as part of their recovery and ongoing recruitment strategy.
Apprenticeships can help to offer employers a way to strengthen their business further and to access quality training to help build a pipeline of skilled, motivated talent. The Apprenticeship Programme will continue to help employers during recovery, as Wales’ primary driver for upskilling the workforce.
Any employer in Wales, regardless of size or sector, can benefit from the four new Apprenticeship incentives, which will run from 1 August 2020 to 28 February 2021.
- *INCENTIVE PAYMENT FOR EMPLOYING 16-24 YEAR OLDS
Up to £3,000 to hire a young Apprentice, aged 16-24.
*This incentive applies to Apprenticeships delivered at levels 2-5 only.
*Payments will be restricted to ten Apprentices per employer.
- *INCENTIVE PAYMENT FOR EMPLOYING APPRENTICES AGED 25 AND OVER
Up to £2,000 to hire a new Apprentice aged 25 and over.
*This incentive applies to Apprenticeships delivered at levels 2-5 only.
*Payments will be restricted to ten Apprentices per employer.
- *INCENTIVE FOR RE-EMPLOYMENT OF REDUNDANT APPRENTICES
Up to £2,600 to employers for the re-employment of redundant Apprentices to allow them to complete their training.
*This incentive applies to Apprenticeships delivered at levels 2-5 only.
*This incentive applies to those Apprentices made redundant after 23 March 2020.
*The Apprentice must continue to follow the same Apprenticeship Framework Pathway.
- *INCENTIVE FOR EMPLOYING DISABLED PEOPLE
£1,500 to employers for each new Apprentice they hire.
*This incentive applies to Apprenticeships delivered at levels 2-5 only.
*Payments apply to all Apprentices identified as disabled, irrespective of age.
*Payments can be claimed in addition to the 16-24, 25 and over and redundancy incentives.
The Apprenticeship incentives are outlined in full here: – https://businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/skills-and-training- programmes/Apprenticeships/funding-available
An Apprenticeships campaign, aimed at employers, will be live from November 16th and will run for a period of four weeks.
Exceptions
* Employers recruiting on zero hour contracts are ineligible for the Apprenticeship recruitment incentives.
* Shared Apprenticeship models are ineligible for the Apprenticeship recruitment incentives.
