New Funding and Support Opportunities for Employers
Access new funding and free support to help your business recover and grow following the impact of Coronavirus.
We know that these are challenging times for employers. We can support you to gain access to Government funding that will help you to increase your staffing levels at little or no cost to your business.
We offer a range of programmes that help you to develop your workforce and assist you in the recruitment and training of new staff. Read on for an overview of how we can work with you to support your business recovery.
Apprenticeships
Recruit a new apprentice before 30 September on £4.15 per hour and your business will be supported with an incentive grant.
We offer Apprenticeships at Intermediate, Advanced and Higher/Degree level and these are available to employers of any size.
Any employer recruiting an apprentice of any age after the 1st April can apply for a £3,000 grant, plus any 16-18 apprentices and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan can get an extra £1,000, meaning that some employers could receive £4,000 in total.
The payment is different to apprenticeship levy funds and you can spend it on anything to support your organisation’s costs, eg facilities, uniforms, your apprentice’s travel or their salary. You do not have to pay it back.
You can only apply for this payment for new apprentices who started their contract of employment between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021.
Traineeships
If you can provide a minimum of 70-90 hours high quality work experience, you could help to support a young person to gain skills that will improve their chances of employment and be eligible for a £1,000 Government incentive payment.
Traineeships are free to your business and can help you to increase your workforce. Traineeships can last from 6 weeks to 6 months.
We will meet with you to agree a programme of training that will allow trainees to support your business whilst gaining the skills required to work within your industry.
Want to find out more?
'Kickstart Scheme' - Support to Employ a Young Person
Funding is available that will pay the wages and employer national insurance contributions of those aged 16-24 for six months, if you can offer a high-quality work placement.
The College has been appointed to act as an intermediary to help small employers gain access to the Government’s ‘Kickstart funding’. This scheme is aimed at helping 16-24 year olds, and 25 year olds with an educational support plan on Universal Credit to gain new skills and work experience that will improve their chances of finding employment
This scheme can help you to increase your workforce at no additional cost for 6 months and provide a young person with skills and much needed experience that will support them into an apprenticeship or employment.
Work Experience
Our students can complete a voluntary work placement within your organisation, and are willing to work hours to suit your business needs with no financial cost to you.
Many of our students are keen to complete work experience hours within their chosen career pathway. Our work experience scheme provides you with an opportunity to increase your workforce at no additional cost, and provide a young person with an opportunity to the gain skills and experience that will support them towards an apprenticeship or employment.
Recruit a Workforce with the Right Skills
Do you have a vacancy or several vacancies that you need to fill but only want to interview quality candidates?
The impact of Coronavirus has resulted in the redundancy of many talented people. We work with Job Centre Plus to identify candidates suitable for interview. The College provides a short training programme prior to interview that is agreed with the employer and only candidates that pass the training, are recommended for interview. Your only commitment is to agree to interview our shortlist.
You may wish to consider utilising some of the above initiatives for additional candidates following interview. The College can add any short bespoke training that you require prior to interview, such as moving and handling and food hygiene. There are no age restrictions on these opportunities.
