The Black Country Skills Factory has launched various subsidies for Black Country High Value Manufacturing (HVM) SME’s who take on new apprentices.
Skills Factory subsidies are only paid for Engineering Apprenticeships in Black Country HVM SME’s:
Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations Apprenticeship Subsidies (with appropriate Technical Certificates)
Age | 16-17 | 18-20 | 21+ |
Minimum rate (per hour) | £3.72 | £5.03 | £6.31 |
Skills Factory subsidy | £1,000 | £1,250 | £1,500 |
Conditions:1. Skills Factory wage subsidy only paid to companies who have not taken on a new apprentice in the last 12 months.
2. Skills Factory wage subsidy will be in addition to the AGE grant (subject to eligibility criteria).
3. Companies up-skilling existing employees through the apprentice route can claim the subsidy as long as all other criteria is met.
4. One Level 2 apprentice subsidy per company. Paid after 13 weeks. (Only one subsidy L2 or L3 per company per year).
5. Skills Factory subsidy is conditional on a minimum hourly rate being paid to the apprentice over a minimum of a 35 hour week as detailed in the above table.
Standard terms and conditions apply, please download the application form here.
Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship Progression Subsidies - **New for 2014**
Age | 16-17 | 18-20 | 21+ |
Minimum rate (per hour) | £3.72 | £5.03 | £6.31 |
Skills Factory subsidy | £1,250 | £1,250 | £1,250 |
Conditions:
1. Skills Factory wage subsidy paid to companies commencing a Level 3 Engineering apprentice after January 1st 2014.
2. One Level 3 subsidy per company. Paid after 13 weeks. (Only one subsidy L2 or L3 per company per year).
3. Subsidies are available where an employee is progressing from L2 to L3 (where progressing after 1 year).
4. Skills Factory subsidy is conditional on a minimum hourly rate being paid to the apprentice over a minimum of a 35 hour week as detailed in the above table.
Terms and conditions apply. Download the Level 3 application form here.
Apprentice Wage Subsidies
1) Aim to compensate employers for the non-productive time spent at college and lack of productivity in the early phases, whilst ensuring apprentices are paid above apprenticeship minimum rate.
2) Aim to attract a higher calibre of candidate and improve retention by encouraging employers to pay a higher rate.
3) Aim to encourage employers to up-skill their existing workforce through apprenticeships.
4) Aim to encourage further development - e.g. from Level 2 to Level 3.
5) Skills Factory wage subsidy will be in addition to the AGE grant (subject to eligibility criteria).
6) Skills Factory wage subsidy will be withdrawn once budget is exhausted.
7) Skills Factory wage subsidy will not be paid in addition to Walsall Works (their payment will be adjusted).
8) Any wage subsidies through ATAs must pass pro rata through to the company where the apprentice is actually working and subject to the apprentice rates in 5.
The subsidies range from £1,000 to £3,500 (this includes rotation apprentice subsidies) and aim to support Engineering Apprenticeships in the Black Country High Value Manufacturing (HVM) sector. The subsidy is in addition to existing government grants.
For more information on any of the above subsidies, please contact: