The UK Government is offering financial incentives to organisations to recruit apprentices. According to the Government.

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

  • 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation
  • 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity
  • 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service


An apprentice can be a sustainable investment in skills to support businesses as the economy recovers.


Incentives only apply to apprentice you have hired - it does not cover existing employees who joined your organisation before 1 August 2020, even if they started an apprenticeship after this date. The incentives cover two time periods:

Apprentices who joined your organisation from 1 April 2021

  • Employers with apprentices who have an employment start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 and who also have a practical period (training) start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 November 2021 may be eligible for an incentive payment 
  • Employers will receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age 
  • Employers must apply for these apprentices by the end of 30 November 2021 
  • Employers can visit our guidance page for more detail

In addition to existing apprentices, any new hires employers make between now and 30 September 2021 may also be eligible for an incentive payment.