Apprenticeship support

MidKent College can help interested employers gain access to the £1,500 Grant – which is administered by Aspire Learning and Development Limited and available until 30 October 2010.

With the aim of helping to support small to medium sized businesses through the current economic climate, the Grant is there to enable organisations of 250 employees or less to take on a new apprentice aged 16-24. Any employer who is successful in securing the funding will be paid in two instalments: £1,000 when the apprentice starts work and a further £500 once he or she has been in employment for 12 weeks.

To be eligible, an employer must confirm that they are:



 Interested in employing an apprentice for the first time; or



 Conducting apprentice re-recruitment after a lapse of twelve months or more; or



 Already employing apprentices, but – with the grant’s aid – committed to employing more 16-24 year olds than they otherwise would have.



To be eligible for the grant, young people must be:



Aged between 16 and 18 and not in employment, education or training (NEET); or



19 to 24 years old, unemployed and enrolling on an Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3).



In addition, those aged between 19 and 24 must:



 Have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for six months or more; or



 Be looking to start their Apprenticeship following Pre-Employment Training with Jobcentre Plus.



Please note: 



 Candidates will need to have been recruited and started their Apprenticeship before the end of October 2010



Employers will be asked to sign an agreement which commits them to employing a new or additional apprentice(s) in paid employment for the duration of the Apprenticeship



Employers must commit to paying the apprentice at least the minimum Apprenticeship wage



If the apprentice leaves early, the employer will be asked to repay a proportion of the Grant



Graduates are not eligible for the Grant.




If you require more information about the grant or wish to discuss this initiative further, please contact Pauline Ashby on 01634 383118