Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme
As an apprenticeship levy paying employer, we can now transfer up to 25% of our apprenticeship levy funds to employers who want to recruit apprentices or train their staff using apprenticeship qualifications - helping businesses to invest in high-quality training and get the skilled workforce they need to thrive and succeed.
Apprenticeship training ranges from GCSE to Masters level and range in value from £1,500 to £27,000. A variety of learning options are also available including online, classroom-based and one-to-one tuition. Find out about apprenticeship training courses.
The benefits
Islington businesses can benefit from these funds by:
- Upskilling your existing employees – existing employees can complete an apprenticeship training course and learn new skills and gain a professional qualification alongside, and complementary to, their career. Offering employees training is known to improve staff retention and drive loyalty as well as ensure your workforce continuously develops the skills you need to address sector changes.
- Recruiting an apprentice – apprentices can work on tasks and projects that can have a direct impact on your business. Apprenticeships are open to anyone of working age, with no upper age limit. Funds can be used to pay for the training course an apprentice completes, enabling you to grow your own talent.
Who can receive transferred funds?
We can transfer funds to employers for new apprenticeship opportunities, particularly where the funds will create an apprenticeship that would not have been created without the funds. This can include new apprentices or existing employees undertaking an apprenticeship training course.
Employers must meet the following criteria:
- Your business must have a specific presence in Islington, either located in the borough or requesting funds to train an Islington resident.
- You will need to pay for the salaries of apprentices. The transfer of funds can only be used for the apprenticeship course training costs. It excludes travel expenses or any membership fees.
- As a London Living Wage employer, requests for funds will only be considered by businesses who will pay their trainee or existing staff member at least the London Living Wage.
- Employers must support the employees in their learning and development providing appropriate time to train during contracted hours.
- If you are already an apprenticeship levy payer, you must have already spent your levy for the year before applying for Islington Council’s fund.
- Your request must be for future apprenticeship training. The request cannot be backdated on training that has already commenced.
- For monitoring purposes, employers will also need to commit to notifying the council on the outcome of the apprenticeship.
How to apply
If you are an employer that would like to benefit from the free funding available, please complete the expression of interest form.
So there is maximum benefit from the levy funds, employers should demonstrate on their form how the funding will contribute to Islington Council’s strategic priorities of:
- Addressing skill shortages in Islington. Priority sectors include health and social care, hospitality, construction and digital and technology sectors, although all applications will be considered.
- Creating apprenticeship opportunities for disadvantaged groups (for example: care leavers, NEETs, those with disabilities, long-term unemployed)
- Enabling growth and development.
If you have any questions, please email apprenticeships@islington.gov.uk.