Leverage new incentives with Focus Training
We hear it from the employers we work with every day: it’s getting harder and harder for small businesses to justify the cost of an apprentice.
But major changes to incentivise employers under the new Youth Guarantee is something you cannot afford to ignore.
By strategically stacking the new financial incentives, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can now unlock up to £6,000 in direct funding to bring a new apprentice on board. Combine that cash injection with zero National Insurance Contributions (NICs), and growing your team with an apprentice just became a lot more doable.
Read on to find out exactly how it works, how to claim it, and how to ensure that funding actually translates into business growth.
Look at the Maths: How to Claim Your £6,000
As part of a move to get more young people engaging in meaningful employment, the government has introduced targeted incentives to support the employers who are key to their future success.
In this example, if your business is an SME, and employs an 18-year-old apprentice who has been on Universal Credit for six months or more, the funding stacks up like this:
- £1,000 for hiring an apprentice aged 16–18.
- £2,000 SME incentive for hiring a 16–24-year-old apprentice.
- £3,000 bonus for taking on an 18–24-year-old who has been on Universal Credit for over six months.
Total Cash Support: £6,000. On top of the incentive, you pay zero National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for any apprentice under the age of 25. That is serious relief on your payroll, making it the most cost-effective time in a decade to invest in new talent.
Funding Covers the Cost. Training Delivers the ROI.
Leaving government money on the table is bad business.
But, sending your new apprentice to a training provider that doesn’t offer a high level of quality training and wraparound support to grow them into a meaningful team member… that might be even worse.
While funding and incentives cover the initial obvious costs, it’s the quality of the training that will determine your return on investment over the long term.
At Focus Training, we don’t do volume; we do impact. Across our South West hubs in Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol, and Cornwall, we train apprentices to add value to your business from day one. Here is why local employers partner with Focus:
- Small Class Sizes: Your apprentice won’t get lost in the crowd. They get direct, personal attention to master technical skills faster.
- Taught by Industry Pros: Our tutors aren’t career academics; they are tradespeople who know the realities of the job and pass that exact standard onto your staff.
- Top 5 Regional Results: Our 72.4% achievement rate makes us the fourth highest achiever in the South West, above all of the colleges in the region. When you invest in a Focus apprentice, they finish the course qualified, competent and confident.
Build the Workforce Your Business Needs
The Youth Guarantee isn’t just a social initiative; it’s a massive competitive edge for regional businesses looking to scale up without taking on massive financial risk. At Focus, we’ll handle all the logistics, so you can focus on making the most of this excellent training route to help you achieve your business goals.
As these incentives go live over the next few months, spaces within our highly sought after September cohorts are limited to keep class sizes small, so if you’re considering taking on an apprentice this year, get in touch today.
Contact our team today to lock in your funding and secure your next apprentice. ⚡