Apprenticeships provide a practical and cost-effective route to attracting new talent while equipping apprentices with valuable workplace skills and industry knowledge. By investing in apprentices, employers can address skills gaps, improve productivity and develop employees with the expertise needed to support long-term business success.
At Bradford College, apprentices work across a wide range of industries, including construction, engineering, health, digital, business, early years and professional services, helping employers build stronger teams while supporting local economic growth.
Employers may be eligible for a range of incentives and funding opportunities when recruiting an apprentice.
Businesses recruiting a young apprentice aged 16 to 18 can receive a £1,000 Young Apprentice Payment. The payment is also available when recruiting apprentices aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or are care leavers.
Non-levy employers can benefit from the New Apprenticeship Hiring Payment, worth up to £2,000. This payment is available for new apprentice recruits aged 16 to 24 starting from 1 October 2026, the funding is paid in two instalments as apprentices reach key milestones in their programme.
Employers may also be able to access a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant when recruiting a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been claiming Universal Credit and actively seeking work for at least six months. The grant can be claimed for apprenticeship roles, provided all eligibility criteria are met.
Those recruiting learners onto eligible Foundation Apprenticeships can access an additional Foundation Apprenticeship Employer Incentive of up to £2,000, helping businesses build talent pipelines from entry-level programmes into skilled careers.
For many employers, apprenticeships are more affordable than they realise.
Non-levy employers recruiting apprentices aged 16 to 24 can benefit from 100% government-funded training and assessment costs, meaning there are no direct training fees to pay for eligible apprenticeships.
Businesses can also reduce employment costs through Employer National Insurance relief, with employers paying no Class 1 National Insurance contributions for apprentices under the age of 25 who meet the relevant earnings thresholds and HMRC conditions.
Combined with the wider benefits of developing new talent, these incentives can significantly reduce the cost of recruitment while creating opportunities for local people to build rewarding careers.
While the financial incentives are important, employing an apprentice is about more than financial support. Apprentices bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, while employers gain the opportunity to shape training around their business needs.
Many employers also report improved staff retention, increased productivity and stronger succession planning as a result of their apprenticeship programmes.
Whether recruiting for the first time or expanding an existing workforce, apprenticeships can help businesses build the skills they need today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow.
Bradford College works with employers of all sizes to recruit, train and support apprentices across a wide range of sectors. Businesses interested in taking on an apprentice can contact the Bradford College Apprenticeships Team to discuss available programmes, funding opportunities and employer support.
Click here to find out more about Apprenticeships at Bradford College
| Incentive | Value | Eligibility requirements |
| Young Apprentice Payment | £1,000 | Employer recruits an apprentice who is 16–18 at the start of the apprenticeship or 19–24 and either has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or is a care leaver. Available to both levy and non-levy employers. |
| New Apprenticeship Hiring Payment | Up to £2,000 | Employer must be a non-levy employer; apprentice must be 16–24 at the start of the practical period; apprenticeship must start on or after 1 October 2026 and providing they have started their job with their employer within the past 90 days; apprentice must be a new recruit; apprentice must be employed through PAYE and recorded in the Apprenticeship Service. The hiring payment is paid in two instalments. £1000 after the apprentice has completed 90 days on their apprenticeship and £1000 after the apprentice has completed 365 days (242 days if the apprenticeship lasts less than 12 months) |
| Youth Jobs Grant | £3,000 | Employer recruits a young person aged 18–24 who has been claiming Universal Credit and looking for work for at least 6 months. The vacancy must be approved under the scheme before recruitment, and the young person must be referred/identified through Jobcentre Plus. The employee must remain in employment for the required period to trigger grant payments. The grant can also be claimed where the role is an apprenticeship, provided both schemes’ eligibility rules are met. |
| Foundation Apprenticeship Employer Incentive | Up to £2,000 | Employer recruits an apprentice on an eligible Foundation Apprenticeship and meets the funding rules for programme completion and payment milestones. |
| 100% Government-funded Training | Training costs fully funded | Employer is non-levy; apprentice is aged 16–24; apprenticeship training and assessment costs are funded up to the relevant funding band maximum. |
| Employer National Insurance Relief | Up to 100% employer NIC saving | Employer pays no employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, provided they earn below the Upper Secondary Threshold and meet HMRC conditions. |
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