APPRENTICESHIP FUNDING AND SUPPORT
Our guide to the grant minefield for construction firms
The Rules
The rules around what you can (and can’t) claim are constantly changing so here’s our quick guide to show what apprenticeship funding is available and how to get it.
Remember all apprentices must be a direct employee of your company in order to get these grants.
Government Grants
For apprentices aged 16-18 when they start their apprenticeship you can claim £1,000 from the government. When your apprentice has been on their course for 90 days, this automatically prompts the ESFA to pay the first £500 incentive to the training provider. Payments are made around the 14th of each month. The training provider then has 30 days to pass this sum onto you. The same process applies for the second instalment of £500. The second payment of £500 will be triggered after 365 days, again the training provider 30 days to transfer funds. Ask your training provider to make sure you are set up for this.
From the 1st October 2026, the Government is offering a £2,000 hiring payment. This is for non-levy paying employers (you will know if you pay the levy!). To qualify, the apprentice must be between 16 and 24 and the apprenticeship start date after 1st October 2026. Again this paid in two installements at 90 days and 365 days. Again ask your training provider to see if you can claim this.
Help and Support
Taking on your first apprentice can seem daunting, but don’t worry there is plenty of help and support available.
Free and impartial advice is available nationally to answer your questions about apprenticeships and help you decide what is the best route for your business.
Across England, your Growth Hub can provide you and your business with a raft of information from taking on your first apprentice to business funding. Find your local hub here
Ask about a levy transfer
If the apprentice is over 24 then you will need to pay 5% of the training course costs. If you pay into the Growth and Skills Levy (previuosly known as the Apprenticeship Levy), then this can be used to pay for it. However, if you don’t, you can apply to levy paying employers to transfer some of their funds to you.
Transfer funds are used to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment. They can be used for a new or existing employee that hasn’t already started an apprenticeship. You can find out what transfer funding is available here.
To apply for a transfer, you will need an apprenticeship service account. Your training provider can help you set this up or you can find more help here.
Many firms who pay the Growth and Skills Levy do not use all their ‘pot’. At Hudson we work hard to ensure we maximise the use of spare funds and transfer them to local construction companies with older apprentices.
The funds are out there, you just have to ask.
CITB Grants
These grants are only available to companies registered with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Registering with CITB is your choice, we recommend you click on the following link to decide whether you would like to do this, as some companies may need to pay into a Levy pot depending on your total wage bill.
www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/citb-levy/levy-rates-and-exemptions/current-rates/
If you decide to go down this route, the apprenticeship grant covers:
- £2,500 per year for attendance whilst completing the apprenticeship.
This grant is payable every 13 weeks. - an achievement grant of £3,500 on successful completion.
Only specific Level 2 and above Apprenticeships are covered and the training must be through CITB or a registered training provider.
For more information, please follow the link:
www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-funding/about-citb-grants-scheme/
If you would like to make use of the funding available from CITB don’t forget that the claim must be received by CITB within 52 weeks of the start of the Apprenticeship.
The CITB have set up a team to help employers apply for CITB Apprenticeship Grants, more details can be found here.
EMPLOYER GUIDES
Find the right training provider
NEWS AND RESEARCH
Read our latest news and research
Hudson Contract and Apprenticeships
We’re here to help
We want to build on our history of supporting apprenticeships and help in recruiting the next generation into the construction industry. So whether you are school leaver or a construction business looking for details about apprenticeships we hope this website will help you on your journey.
Construction is an ageing population and we all need to act now to make a difference.