The National Apprenticeship Service have confirmed that they will provide up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small and medium size employers recruiting 16 to 24 year olds with a value of £1,500, to encourage new employers to take on new 16 to 24 year old apprentices. Priority will be given to small-medium size employers with less than 50 employees and they expect to support at least 20,000 of these to recruit an apprentice for the first time.
The AGE 16 to 24 is available now until March 2013 for employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to a young person they recruit. Funding will start from 1 April 2012. However eligible employers who have employed a new apprentice from 1 February 2012 will be able to apply for the grant, subject to all the other eligibility criteria.
More information is available on the employer fact sheet.