While the Apprentice Recovery Package did help some employers protect the employment of their existing apprentices and to create new apprenticeship opportunities, the ongoing restrictions meant that many businesses were unable to avail of the support.
With the financial support package now extended for another year, employers are encouraged to take advantage of these initiatives which are designed to help renew and regrow their businesses.
The New Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme
This scheme is open to employers who take on an apprentice participating in the Department for the Economy funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes with up to £3,000 available to employers for each new apprenticeship opportunity created between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022.
This is available for all new apprenticeship opportunities created, including those made available for apprentices who have been made redundant by another employer.
For further information on the payments and to download an application form for the scheme please visit www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-recruitment-new-apprenticeships
Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme
This scheme is open to employers participating on the DfE-funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, who return apprentices who were furloughed as part of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
DfE will provide incentive payments to help apprentice(s) return from furlough, retain them in work and for successful completion of their apprenticeship, with up to £3,700 available per apprentice.
- Return - £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship between 1 November 2020 and 31st March 2022.
- Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 consecutive months of paid apprenticeship following the “return” month between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- Result - £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice.
For further information and to download an application form for the scheme please visit www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-apprenticeship-return-retain-result-scheme