Apprenticeships: new opportunities for businesses

The Government has introduced a number of changes to apprenticeships, creating new opportunities for businesses to recruit new talent, upskill existing employees and address skills gaps with financial support available for eligible employers.

Financial support for employers

Businesses may be eligible for financial incentives when recruiting apprentices, including:

£1,000 employer incentive for apprentices aged 16–18.
£1,000 employer incentive for apprentices aged 19–24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, are in local-authority care or have previously been in care.
Employers taking on a Foundation Apprentice may be eligible for up to £2,000 per apprentice, paid in stages and linked to retention and progression.

Find out more about employing an apprentice on the Government website.

Employing an apprentice – GOV.UK

Support for recruiting and developing young people

Foundation Apprenticeships

Foundation Apprenticeships are a new type of Level 2 apprenticeship in England, designed to give young people valuable workplace experience, employability skills and technical knowledge.

They can help employers develop a pipeline of future talent and give young people a supported route into employment or a full apprenticeship.

A Foundation Apprenticeship:

Provides paid employment with an employer.
Includes a Level 2 qualification and structured training.
Typically lasts around eight months.
Combines workplace learning with off-the-job training.
Develops employability and technical skills, alongside English and maths where required.

Foundation Apprenticeships are generally available to young people aged 16–21. Those aged 22–24 may also be eligible in certain circumstances, including where they have an EHC plan or are in, or have recently left, care or custody.

Foundation Apprenticeship routes

Current Foundation Apprenticeship routes include:

Retail, Service, Supply and Administration
Catering and Hospitality
Construction
Engineering and Manufacturing
Digital
Health and Social Care

What happens after a Foundation Apprenticeship?

A Foundation Apprenticeship is intended to be a stepping stone rather than an end point. Learners can progress into:

A Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship
Employment within the sector
Further education or skills training

Employers taking on a Foundation Apprentice may be eligible for up to £2,000 per apprentice, subject to retention and progression requirements.

Find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships and current opportunities through the Government's apprenticeship service.

Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK

Adult apprenticeships: upskill your existing workforce

Apprenticeships aren't just for young people.

Businesses can use apprenticeship funding to develop existing employees aged 19 and over, helping them gain new skills while continuing to work.

Support for Derbyshire SMEs

Derbyshire County Council supports local small and medium-sized businesses to recruit adult apprentices and upskill existing employees through Adult Apprenticeship Funding.

This can help businesses to:

Address skills gaps within their workforce.
Develop and retain existing employees.
Improve productivity.
Build the skills needed for future growth.
Strengthen and future-proof their workforce.

There is also greater flexibility for employers to use apprenticeship training as part of wider workforce development.

Growth and Skills Adult Apprenticeship Funding – Derbyshire County Council

New flexible apprenticeship units

New apprenticeship units provide shorter, more flexible training opportunities for existing employees aged 19 and over.

Units can range from 30 to 140 delivery hours and can typically be completed over one to 16 weeks, allowing employers to respond quickly to specific skills needs.

They can be used to:

Address critical skills gaps.
Upskill employees quickly.
Develop specialist technical skills.
Support business growth and productivity.

For non-levy employers, eligible units are fully funded. Levy-paying employers can use available levy funds, with co-investment applying where levy funds have been exhausted.

Employers can register eligible employees through their apprenticeship service account and arrange delivery with an approved training provider.

Provider availability varies depending on the unit and location. Businesses should use the Government's apprenticeship training service to check available provision.

Examples of apprenticeship units

Current units include training in areas such as:

AI leadership – strategy and opportunity
AI leadership – adoption, procurement and governance
AI leadership – delivery and organisational transformation
Electric vehicle charging point installation and maintenance
Electrical fitting and assembly
Mechanical fitting and assembly
Permanent modular building assembly
Solar PV installation and maintenance
Welding – mechanised
Battery manufacturing

Apprenticeship standards being withdrawn from funding

A number of apprenticeship standards have been announced for withdrawal from funding from no earlier than 1 September 2026.

These include:

Level 3 Facilities Management Supervisor

Level 4 Improvement Practitioner

Level 6 Improvement Leader

Level 3 Custody and Detention Professional

Level 3 Security First Line Manager

Level 3 Public Sector Compliance Investigator and Officer

Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative

Level 2 Professional Security Operative

Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist

Level 5 Coaching Professional

Level 3 Learning and Skills Assessor

Level 4 Learning and Skills Mentor

Level 4 Lead Practitioner in Adult Care

Level 3 Team Leader

Level 5 Operations Manager

Level 6 Chartered Manager

Important: Apprentices who started one of these standards before its funding withdrawal date can continue and complete their apprenticeship.

Businesses considering a new apprenticeship should check the current apprenticeship standard and its funding status before agreeing a new start.

Youth Guarantee and Jobs Guarantee

The Government's Youth Guarantee includes a Jobs Guarantee designed to help young people experiencing long-term unemployment move into sustainable employment.

The Jobs Guarantee provides:

A fully funded six-month paid job for eligible young people.
Government funding covering 100% of wage costs for up to 25 hours per week, at the relevant minimum wage.
Wraparound support including employability advice, skills development and job coaching.
Meaningful work experience designed to help participants progress into longer-term employment.

Who is eligible?

The Jobs Guarantee is aimed at young people who are:

Aged 18–24.
Claiming Universal Credit.
Have been looking for work for 18 months or more.

For businesses, this can provide an opportunity to bring new talent into the organisation while receiving support towards employment and helping young people gain valuable workplace experience.

What does this mean for your business?

The changes provide businesses with more options to recruit, train and retain talent, whether you are looking to:

Recruit young people
Use Foundation Apprenticeships and available employer incentives to develop future talent.

Upskill your existing workforce
Explore adult apprenticeship funding and new flexible apprenticeship units to address specific skills gaps.

Improve productivity
Invest in the skills your business needs now and in the future.

Support young people into work
Consider whether opportunities through the Youth Guarantee and Jobs Guarantee could work for your business.

Find out more

Businesses should check the latest Government and Derbyshire County Council guidance for eligibility, funding availability and current apprenticeship standards before making decisions.