Council helps with incentive to create apprenticeships
Monday, 3rd March 2014.
In a bid to boost apprenticeship growth, Suffolk County Council in partnership with the National Apprenticeship Service is offering £1,500 to Suffolk employers who will employ 16 to 24-year-olds through the apprenticeship programme.
The number of apprenticeships in Suffolk continues to rise but the demand from young people still outstrips supply, with an average ratio of eight applicants to every vacancy.
Apprenticeships are fast becoming the route of choice for talented young people and there has never been a better time for employers to take advantage of this talent and grow their business.
According to the National Apprenticeship Service, 96 per cent of employers that take on an apprentice report benefits to their business and 72 per cent of businesses report improved productivity as a result of employing an apprentice - this is testament to the benefits of apprenticeships for both young people and the wider economy.
The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) offers £1,500 for each apprentice taken on by an employer, with the ability to take on up to ten apprentices.
Any business that employs less than 1,000 members of staff and hasn't had an apprentice within the last 12 months could be eligible for the grant. Young people aged 16 to 24 are eligible under the scheme.
Cllr Lisa Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and young people, said: “Apprenticeships are a powerful, but under-developed tool.
"We recognise that employers need support to be able to successfully manage the training of an apprentice and it’s important that we work with them by dispelling myths of complicated procedures in order to employ an apprentice.
“I can see from the many apprentices we have working for Suffolk County Council that the lasting benefit these young people bring to the workplace is too vital to miss out on.
“This grant funding will allow small-to-medium employers to meet the costs of taking on a new and valuable member of staff, and in effect aid re-investment into the business to help it grow.”
To find out how to take advantage of these opportunities please contact the Apprenticeships Team on 01473 260922 or email at apprenticeships@suffolk.gov.uk
The number of apprenticeships in Suffolk continues to rise but the demand from young people still outstrips supply, with an average ratio of eight applicants to every vacancy.
Apprenticeships are fast becoming the route of choice for talented young people and there has never been a better time for employers to take advantage of this talent and grow their business.
According to the National Apprenticeship Service, 96 per cent of employers that take on an apprentice report benefits to their business and 72 per cent of businesses report improved productivity as a result of employing an apprentice - this is testament to the benefits of apprenticeships for both young people and the wider economy.
The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) offers £1,500 for each apprentice taken on by an employer, with the ability to take on up to ten apprentices.
Any business that employs less than 1,000 members of staff and hasn't had an apprentice within the last 12 months could be eligible for the grant. Young people aged 16 to 24 are eligible under the scheme.
Cllr Lisa Chambers, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and young people, said: “Apprenticeships are a powerful, but under-developed tool.
"We recognise that employers need support to be able to successfully manage the training of an apprentice and it’s important that we work with them by dispelling myths of complicated procedures in order to employ an apprentice.
“I can see from the many apprentices we have working for Suffolk County Council that the lasting benefit these young people bring to the workplace is too vital to miss out on.
“This grant funding will allow small-to-medium employers to meet the costs of taking on a new and valuable member of staff, and in effect aid re-investment into the business to help it grow.”
To find out how to take advantage of these opportunities please contact the Apprenticeships Team on 01473 260922 or email at apprenticeships@suffolk.gov.uk
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)