Deadline for £3,000 incentive for employers hiring apprentices

Since April 2021, employers across England have been able to take advantage of the government’s £3,000 employer incentive payment for hiring an apprentice.

Employers can apply for the payment of £3,000 for new apprentices of any age who join an organisation from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. They must have an apprenticeship start date of 1 April 2021 to 30 November 2021.

Apprentices who joined the organisation before 1 April 2021 will not be eligible. The £3,000 incentive is in addition to the £1,000 available for taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 years old or 19 to 24 years old with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority. Employers do not have to pay this back.

As the payment is different to apprenticeship levy funds, so employers can spend it on anything to support their organisation’s costs. For example, on uniforms, your apprentice’s travel or their salary.

Employers can apply for the incentive payment on the government website. Applications close on 30 November 2021 and to receive the full payment, the apprenticeship must last for at least one year.