Government support
Government funding is available for apprenticeship training. Financial support is also available when you take on a new apprentice.
Funding for apprenticeship training costs
If you're recruiting an apprentice aged 16 to 24, the government will usually fund 100% of the training assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum. This applies whether or not you pay the apprenticeship levy, subject to the funding rules. For apprentices aged 25 and over, you'll usually need to contribute towards the cost, with the government paying the rest. For example, you'll pay:
- 5% of the training and assessment costs, if you do not pay the apprenticeship levy
- 25% of the training and assessment costs, if you pay the apprenticeship levy and have used all of your funds
- the difference if training costs more than the funding band maximum
Recruitment support payments
You could be entitled to up to £8,000 of government funding to take on an apprentice.
You can claim more than one of these payments where eligible.
The types of support available from the government are:
- £1,000 additional payment, for new or existing employees starting an apprenticeship aged 16 to 18 (or under 25 if a care leaver or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan holder)
- £2,000 foundation apprenticeship incentive, for employers recruiting foundation apprentices aged 16 to 21 (or under 25 if a care leaver, prison leaver, or an EHC plan holder)
- £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire apprentices aged 18 to 24 who've been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more
- £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy employers, for non-levy paying employers hiring a new apprentice aged 16 to 24 from 1 October 2026
Employer national insurance contributions
You'll not usually pay employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25. Check HMRC guidance on GOV.UK for more information.