Apprenticeship Levy Update

Category: Property & Construction - Posted On: Apr 11 2017


The new Apprenticeship Levy begins from 6 April 2017. This will have to be paid by businesses that have an annual wages bill of over £3m but it is important to note that all businesses, regardless of size, will be able to benefit from the fund.

The process for claiming the levy in Scotland will be different to the digital voucher scheme which will be used in England. The apprenticeship funding in Scotland will be administered by Skills Development Scotland through contracted training providers and direct employer contracts. The Scottish Government target for modern apprenticeships is 30,000 per year by 2020 which is a large increase from the current levels.

A good starting point for businesses and potential apprentices would be to visit the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) website to learn more on the new Apprenticeship Levy. In particular, this article answers the top five frequently asked questions.

There are many different types of apprenticeships available in a wide range of industries. Many people assume that apprenticeships only apply to the construction industry sector but there are apprenticeships available in almost every industry sector.

The SDS website also gives guidance on how much funding is available to the employer to help with the financial burden of training an apprentice.

If your business is thinking of taking on new staff or increasing the skills of existing staff they should look into whether there is a training route that qualifies as an apprenticeship and claim for financial support to help fund this training.

For more information or support with the Apprenticeship Levy, please get in touch with our Property & Construction team who are best placed to advise, no matter the sector/industry your business is part of.