Apprentice Grants

This initiative builds on the successful grant scheme funded by the Skills Funding Agency that supported 1,000 apprentices. The Combined Authority grants will in particular support SMEs who create apprenticeships in sectors facing high demand from employers, identified in the Tees Valley Strategic Economic Plan, including:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Process, chemicals and energy
• Logistics
• Health and biologics
• Digital and creative
• Business and professional services

The initiative will also offer support to smaller companies taking on apprentices aged 19-24, often for the first time.  There is also be a drive to establish high quality, higher and degree level apprenticeships in the priority sectors.

There are two separate and distinct offers of grant which employers can apply for, provided that their apprentice is following a recognised Apprenticeship Standard or Framework and all other eligibility criteria are met.

Grant A:

A grant of £2,500 per apprentice for small to medium businesses (249 or fewer employees) from Tees Valley Combined Authority’s identified priority sectors who employ an apprentice aged 19+, working towards a Tees Valley Combined Authority recognised priority sector specific qualification from the Apprenticeship Standards or Frameworks (up to a maximum of three apprentices per year).

OR

Grant B:

An initial grant of £500 per apprentice for small businesses (49 or fewer employees) who employ an apprentice aged 19-24.  In order to encourage high quality and sustainable employment for the apprentice an additional £500 will be paid if the apprentice continues to be in employment more than 13 months after the date of starting their apprenticeship (up to a maximum of three apprentices per year).

Further information on the apprenticeship grants and how to apply can be accessed here.

If you have any questions about this project please contact us.