Support for businesses

Record turnout at the annual Newham Apprenticeship Fair 2024

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a genuine job with an accompanying assessment and skills development programme. It is a way for individuals to earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role.

Employing an apprentice is easier than you think and there is financial support and help available from the government. Apprenticeships help bring valuable skills to your business with the government's support.

You can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers to university graduates, to people of any age who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

You can view our ‘Introduction to apprenticeships’ session below designed for anyone considering a new career path through an apprenticeship scheme.

To find out why now is a great time to invest in apprenticeships, please review our employer led webinar session below that took place during the National Apprenticeship Week, which covered the following: what an apprenticeship is, the benefits to you as an employer, the actions you would need to take along with an in-depth look into the apprenticeship levy and what it means for you as a SME and how you can take advantage of this offer.

Benefits of hiring an apprentice:

• Your apprentice will make valuable contributions
• You can fill skills gaps in your organisation
• If you can’t find a standard to meet your business needs, you can help develop one
• They create opportunities to bring in new talent at any level
• Upskill or retrain current employees
• You can work with your provider to deliver training flexibly
• Free online tools make it easy to manage your apprenticeships

Paying your apprentice

You’re responsible for paying your apprentice for their normal working hours. You must pay them at least the National Minimum Wage rate depending on their age and the year of apprenticeship training they’re in.

From 1stApril 2024 apprentice wage will be as below:

Funding

You can get help from the government to pay for apprenticeship training.

Employers can receive an additional payment of £1,000 if the apprentice starts the apprenticeship aged:

• 16 to 18
• 19 to 25 years old with an education, health and care plan
• 19 to 25 years old and they used to be in care
• 19 to 24 years old and has an education, health and care (EHC) plan provided by their local authority or has been in the care of their local authority.

If your apprentice is eligible, your training provider will give you the payment in 2 instalments of £500. You will get the first payment after 90 days and the second one after a year.

To find out more click here.

Find out what funding could be available towards your apprentices training costs

View a list of training providers (PDF)

Receiving a transfer of levy funds

Employers who pay the apprenticeship levy can choose to transfer any unused funds to another employer, using the apprenticeship service. This would help them to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment.

You can find employers who may want to transfer funds by:

• speaking to training providers
• working with employers in your supply chain
• getting in touch with employers in your industry
• working with regional partners.

A levy-paying employer can transfer a maximum of 25% of their levy funds.

To read more about apprenticeship levy click here.

Recruitment

If you are a business looking to recruit staff for your organisation, please complete the form below to tell us more about the type of recruitment and your requirements. Our Newham Work can support you with recruitment.

Click here

Internships

Royal Docks' Internship Programme

The Royal Docks' Internship Programme gives more local businesses the opportunity to work with quality Interns from around the Royal Docks. If you are a small to medium sized business seeking to take on an Intern between 18-30 years old, on a subsidised London Living wage salary (up to 50%), then we can support you in creating a placement to provide the young valuable skills, experience and knowledge during a 12-month placement.

To take part please contact RDInternships@newham.gov.uk

Join the STEP X Royal Docks Internship Programmes

We’re looking to meet innovative employers based in Newham & the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone. If you’re passionate about creating a positive social impact, operate in the creative, digital, green or blue economy and are looking to diversify your workforce with an Intern, we’d love for you to join us across the next 12 months.
 
To get involved