3rd March 2021 – David Hedges, Head of Employment Taxes at Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs and Top 10 accountancy firm, comments on the flexible measures to attract and engage apprentices.
“A number of measures have been introduced intended to provide further flexibility for businesses attracting and engaging apprentices. The Government has announced an additional £126m in England for high quality work placements and training for 16 – 24 year olds in the 2021/2022 academic year. Employers who provide trainees with work experience will continue to be funded at £1,000 per trainee. Employers who hire a new apprentice between 1 April and 30 September 2021 will receive £3,000 per new hire compared with £1,500 (£2,000 for those aged 24 or under) for new hires under the old scheme.
This is in addition to the existing £1,000 for all new apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education,Health and Care plan. The Government is also introducing a £7m fund from July 2021 to help employers in England set up and expand “portable” apprenticeships. This should help people work across multiple projects with different employers. Employers themselves will benefit from access to a more diverse apprenticeship talent pipeline. These extensions should encourage businesses to more flexibly engage, and help to support the costs of engaging new and developing talent.
