Financial Support for Hiring Apprentices
Hiring young talent brings fresh ideas and strengthens an employer’s workforce, enabling them to develop the skills needed to meet the demands of the future. Note: ‘We’ refers to the Department for Education.
| Payment | Age Eligibility | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| £1,000 additional payment for hiring apprentices | 16 to 18 (and under 25 with an EHC plan or care leavers) | Paid in two equal instalments, at day 90 and one year after apprenticeship started (or day 242 if apprenticeship under 12 months). |
| £2,000 foundation apprenticeship incentive | 16 to 21 (and under 25 with an EHC plan, care leavers, or prisoners and prison leavers) | Paid in three equal instalments, at day 90, day 242 (8 months) and the final payment when an apprentice progresses onto their next apprenticeship. |
| £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy employers. (from 1 October 2026) | 16 to 24 (new employees) | Paid in two equal instalments at day 90 and day 365 (or day 242 if apprenticeship is under 12 months). |
| £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant | 18 to 24, if apprentice has been unemployed and on universal credit for 6 months or more | Paid in two instalments of £1,800 after 6 weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks. |
Please note: the Youth Jobs Grant payment is paid directly to employers by the Department for Work and Pensions, full guidance is available able on GOV.UK. For the other payments above, the apprenticeship training provider claims them on behalf of the employer and then passes them on.