Incentive payments of £3,000 are available for new apprentices in England with an employment start date ranging from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.

They will also need to have an apprenticeship start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

This incentive payment is different to apprenticeship levy funds, and can be spent on anything to support the organisation’s costs, eg, uniforms, the apprentice’s travel or their salary. You do not have to pay it back.

The payment is in addition to the existing £1,000 paid by training providers to employers who take on an apprentice who is either:

• aged 16 to 18 years old
• under 25 and has an education, health and care plan or has been in the care of their local authority.

Applications close on 15 May 2022.

To receive the payment, submit an application for each eligible apprentice using your Apprenticeship service account.