Finance Funding Support

Make hiring your next apprentice more affordable

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Financial support for hiring a young apprentice

Taking on an apprentice is an investment in your business and your future workforce. But did you know there is also significant financial support available to employers who recruit young apprentices.

Depending on the apprentice you hire and your circumstances, you may be eligible for up to £8,000 in government support, alongside fully funded training for eligible young apprentices and savings on employer National Insurance contributions.

At Capel Manor College, our Employer Engagement team can help you understand the funding available and guide you through the process of recruiting an apprentice.

What financial support is available?

Depending on the apprentice you recruit and your organisation, you could benefit from:

  • £1,000 additional payment for apprentices aged 16 to 18, or those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or who have been in local authority care.
  • £2,000 Foundation Apprenticeship incentive for eligible apprentices aged 16 to 21, with eligibility extended to some apprentices under 25.
  • £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy employers recruiting a new employee aged 16 to 24 from 1 October 2026.
  • £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed and receiving Universal Credit for six months or more.

Employers may be eligible to receive more than one of these payments.

Other ways apprenticeships can reduce your costs

Employing a young apprentice can provide further financial benefits:

  • 100% of apprenticeship training costs covered for eligible apprentices under 25 employed by non-levy employers.
  • No employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25, subject to eligibility.
  • Additional support is available for apprentices who have been in local authority care.

We can help you understand your options

Capel Manor College works with employers across horticulture, landscaping, arboriculture, grounds maintenance, animal care and wider environmental industries. 

Our Employer Engagement Team can help you understand the funding and financial support available, identify the right apprenticeship for your organisation and guide you through the process of recruiting and training an apprentice.

Ryan's story

My experience at Capel Manor College without a doubt helped get me to where I am today, which is Head Gardener at Victoria Park. Ryan studied the Horticulture Apprenticeship (Level 2 and 3)