The benefits of apprenticeships to your business
Apprenticeships can help businesses access funding for training, develop a skilled workforce, motivate employees, and address skills shortages, making them a valuable investment for employers.
They can help with retention, performance, and job satisfaction providing a positive and profitable impact on the business.
To discuss how our apprentices can help boost your business, please get in touch and request a call back today!
How does apprenticeship funding work?
How It Works
Whether you're a levy-paying employer or a smaller non-levy organisation, we work with you to understand the funding landscape, maximise available support, and ensure you get the greatest return on your investment in skills and workforce development.
The Growth & Skills Levy, which replaces the Apprenticeship Levy from August 2026, is designed to give employers greater flexibility to invest in high-quality training while continuing to support apprenticeship delivery. Levy-paying employers contribute 0.5% of their annual payroll into a digital account, while non-levy employers benefit from significant government funding support, including fully funded apprenticeships for learners aged 16 to 24 and 75% government co-investment for apprentices aged 25 and over.
Understanding the Growth & Skills Levy
Employers with an annual payroll over £3 million pay a 0.5% levy into a digital account that can be used for apprenticeship training and approved skills training. Funds are paid into the account monthly, but under the new Growth & Skills Levy rules, unused funds now expire after 12 months rather than 24 months, making workforce planning more important than ever.
If a levy-paying employer exhausts the funds available in its digital account, it must contribute 25% of the apprenticeship training and assessment costs, with the government funding the remaining 75% up to the funding band maximum for learners over 25.
Levy-paying employers can also choose to transfer unused funds to other organisations, helping supply chain partners, charities, and smaller employers invest in apprenticeship training.
Support for Non-Levy Employers
For employers with a payroll under £3 million, apprenticeship funding is now even more generous under the Growth & Skills Levy. For apprentices aged 16 to 24, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training and assessment costs up to the funding band maximum, meaning there is no employer contribution required.
For apprentices aged 25 and over, employers contribute just 25% of the training and assessment cost, with the government funding the remaining 75% through co-investment.
Employers can also benefit from additional incentives, including a £2,000 hiring payment for eligible new apprentices aged 16 to 24. We can also help you navigate funding options, including Levy transfers where appropriate
What our community is saying
Apprenticeships Aren’t Just for New Starters!
Did you know your current team can benefit from apprenticeships, too? Apprenticeships aren’t only for school leavers, they’re a fantastic way to upskill your existing employees, helping them gain the skills needed for promotion or new responsibilities.
Investing in apprenticeships for your team boosts productivity, fills skills gaps, and supports career progression, all while aligning with your organisation’s goals. Talk to us about how our apprenticeship programmes can develop your current employees and strengthen your workforce.
How to get started:
STEP 1
Schedule a consultation
Book a call with our Partnerships & Growth team to discuss your business goals, workforce needs, and the apprenticeship programmes that best fit your organisation.
STEP 2
Receive your custom Apprenticeship plan
We create and send you a tailored plan outlining recommended apprenticeship pathways, training options, timelines, and projected outcomes for your business.
STEP 3
Launch your Apprenticeship programme
Once you’re happy with the plan, we handle the onboarding steps, finalise agreements, set up training, and support you in getting your apprentices enrolled and ready to start.
Ready to take the next step?
Simply get in touch to schedule a consultation.
Global Leadership & Service Excellence that is inspired by World-class Hospitality.
If Apprenticeships are not what you are looking for or need currently, then Umbrella Evolve could be what you are looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Work with extraordinary teams in incredible workplaces across the UK
Meet lifelong friends and make unforgettable memories
Apprentice benefits such as discounts from travel and NUS discounts
Apprenticeship clubs and workshops/masterclasses and webinars
Access to mentors, industry experts and teachers
No university debt! With many universities charging around £9000 a year for tuition, plus adding in any cost-of-living loans, and you could be looking at a debt of around £45,000+ before you even start work! An apprenticeship allows you to pursue a career whilst earning a salary.
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There are so many benefits to having an apprentice in your teams, including:
☂️ Attracting new talent
☂️ The diversification of your teams
☂️ Upskilling current staff - improved retention
☂️ A cost-effective (Levy funded)
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The Growth & Skills Levy replaced the Apprenticeship Levy from August 2026 as part of the government's plans to expand investment in skills and workforce development. It continues to support apprenticeship training while giving employers greater flexibility to invest in approved training programmes that address critical skills needs.
The levy is paid by employers with an annual payroll of more than £3 million at a rate of 0.5% of their pay bill. These funds are held in a digital account and can be used to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment costs, as well as other eligible training supported through the Growth & Skills Levy.
Think of it as a dedicated training fund that you automatically pay into each month through your payroll. Those funds can be used to develop both new and existing employees, helping your organisation build the skills it needs for the future. However, there is a catch: levy funds now expire after 12 months if they are not used, so it is important to have an effective workforce development plan in place.
Employers can also transfer unused levy funds to other organisations, helping supply chain partners, charities, and smaller employers access apprenticeship funding and invest in workforce development
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here are a few rules the MUST be followed when taking on an apprentice. The main are:
☂️ You must provide the minimum apprenticeship length of 8-12 months for each apprentice.
☂️ Adhere to minimum age-based pay for apprentices. You can pay more then mini wage if you wish.
☂️ Support off the job training. This is 6 hours per week irrespective of the hours work by the apprentice.
☂️ Must provide a genuine job for the learner so they can receive meaningful training and development of the job.
☂️ Sign an apprenticeship agreement with us. We can not start an apprentice.your apprenticeship will be right for you. That you are learning new skills at the right level and job position.
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Your funds will expire 12 months after the date submitted, at which point unused funds will default back to the government.
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Essentially, it's where one levy-paying employer agrees to transfer a proportion of their levy funds to another employer. They can then use this fund in full to train an apprentice.
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As an employer, you can choose how much to pay your apprentice, provided it is at least the minimum rate set by the Government. Many employers choose to pay above the minimum rate to attract and retain talented individuals.
Remember, the minimum wage is age-dependent and apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed their first year of apprenticeship are entitled to the minimum wage rate for their age group. [gov.uk]
National Minimum Wage Rates (from 1 April 2026)
☂️ Apprentice Rate - £8.00 per hour*
☂️ 18 to 20 years - £10.85 per hour
☂️ 21 years and over (National Living Wage) - £12.71 per hour
*The apprentice rate applies to apprentices who are:
Under 19; or
Aged 19 and over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.
We always recommend paying a fair and competitive wage that reflects the value apprentices bring to your business.
Rates accurate from 1 April 2026
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All employers must support the off-the-job-training element of their apprenticeship programme (this means allowing apprentices to receive formal training within their contracted working hours).
The minimum volume of hours no longer links to working hours (like the previous 20% off the job training rule). Off-the-job training now consists of a minimum of six hours per week – a consistent figure, irrespective of the hours worked by the apprentice.
Off-the-job training must:
☂️ Be relevant to the apprenticeship programme.
☂️ Be separate from the normal day-to-day job role and working environment.
☂️ Focus on developing new knowledge, skills, and behaviours.
☂️ Take place during normal paid working hours.
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yes, you can use the levy to fund apprenticeship training for existing employees. It is not just for new staff.
Remember: The levy must be used to fund apprenticeship training only. It can not be used to fund other training activities.
Your levy funds expire after 24 months, so it’s advisable to use them where you can..
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An apprenticeship agreement is signed by the employer and apprentice before the start of the programme and outlines key details about the apprenticeship. It’s a legal requirement and acts as a contract of employment between the apprentice and employer. Apprentices younger than 18 will need to get a parent or guardian to sign on their behalf.
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All eligible employers will have to pay the 0.5% apprenticeship levy amount at the end of every month. This is collected automatically by HMRC through the employer’s PAYE system alongside income tax and national insurance contributions.
Employers must declare the apprenticeship levy each month from the start of the financial year.
These Levy contributions then appear in a digital account which can be used by the employer to arrange and pay for apprenticeship training.
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The Growth & Skills levy can only be used within England, as apprenticeship legislation differs across the devolved nations.
For this reason, levy funded apprenticeships must work at least 50% of their time within England. The amount of levy you can access is directly linked to the proportion of your employees living in England.
Non-levy paying employers can use the levy through a transfer of funds from a levy paying employer.
Employers can transfer up to 25% of their annual levy fund to another business.