News

Small Employer Grant update

Friday 2nd March 2012

The National ‘New Apprenticeship Grant’ initiative for SME's is now under way and is attracting much interest, even with the tough economic times businesses are facing.

Nationally 40,000 grants are to be awarded, each worth £1500 - The employer will receive the first payment for £750 once the apprentice reaches the 8 week point of their programme (from the registration date), and they will receive the second payment for £750 once the individual has completed 12 months of their Apprenticeship Programme.

As a registered provider, for this project, Smart Training and Recruitment will work with the employer, who will sign a simple declaration to be kept as evidence that the dates referred to have been met.  As this will be a grant, there is no VAT and a simple invoice/ receipt will be required to complete the documentation when payment is made to the employer.

Each allocation will be lodged and confirmed when an apprentice actually starts employment.

Unlike an earlier grant programme where 5000 starts swamped the pool of funds, this availability is much more extensive and incorporates a wider age banding from 16-24 across the following: 

To confirm the NAS is looking for:

At least 20,000 starts should be small businesses (under 50 employees) who are recruiting an Apprentice for the first time (or not within the last 3 financial years*)

The remainder, or no more than 20,000 starts, can be from either small or medium businesses (under 250 employees) who are recruiting an Apprentice for the first time (or not within the last 3 financial years*)

* Not eligible if the employer employs an Apprentice with a registration start date of April 2009 or after.

Smart Training and Recruitment can now start ‘signing up’ employers who qualify, although the facility won't come into operation until April, as we will soon be able to confirm the final details.                                                                                                                                     

If an employer meets the above criteria, they may engage a maximum of 3 Apprentices under the scheme, provided that they are all employed from the same date, to satisfy the '1st time apprentice rule' 

For more information either call the number below or email.