EMPLOYERS

Further incentives of up to £4000 extended until 30th September 2021!

What is an Apprenticeship?

What’s an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study so you earn while you learn!

An apprentice will:
– work alongside experienced staff
– gain job-specific skills
– earn a wage and get holiday entitlement
– be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)
What levels are there?
At NEMA, we currently offer apprenticeships from Level 2-Level 5.
How much do I need to pay them?
The national minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices is £4.30 per hour from April 2021. The apprentice NMW applies to apprentices aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age.

Some employers may choose to pay more. More details on salaries and entry criteria in specific apprenticeship occupations can be found on GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’.

Why should you take on an apprentice?

how much does the apprenticeship cost?

Levy Employer
Funded through Levy Pot
50 or more employees
Employer pays 5% Contribution
Less than 50 employees (apprentice 19+)
Employer pays 5% Contribution
Less than 50 employees (apprentice 16-18)
Apprenticeship fully funded, no employer contribution
How the Levy works
Employers with a wage bill of over £3 million and 50 or more staff must pay an Apprenticeship Levy. This is a tax of 0.5% of the wage bill and can be used to pay for your apprentice's funding. Each employer receives an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment. The Government tops up the levy payments by 10% but levy funds expire after 24 months if they have not been utilised.

Incentives
All employers, including Levy payers, receive a £1000 incentive when hiring an apprentice aged between 16 and 18. This is paid in two instalments- after 90 days and after 1 year. To receive the full payment, apprentices must stay for at least one year.
A further incentive of £3000 will be given for apprentices of any age who start their apprenticeship between 1st April 2021 to 30th September 2021. These payments can be spent on anything to support your organisation's costs. *This is in addition to the £1000 incentive for apprentices aged between 16-18*

Fully Funded Apprenticeships
If an employer has less than 50 staff, the apprenticeship is fully funded for apprentices age 16-18 or aged 19-24 with an education, health and care plan provided by their local authority or has been in the care of their local authority.

Apprentice Enquiry Form