AGE 16 and 17
Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds
The National Apprenticeship Service has launched a new initiative specifically designed to support employers and unemployed young people, who have been hardest hit in the recession.
Last year, despite tough labour market conditions, over 70,000 16 and 17 year olds started an Apprenticeship. Despite this, there are still many more young people who want to learn whilst they are in work and we are determined to make sure that the opportunities are there for them to do so.
We are introducing a new Apprenticeship Grant: AGE 16 and 17, of £2,500 to enable employers to offer 5,000 new Apprenticeship places and take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old apprentice immediately. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which is met by the National Apprenticeship Service.
We recognise the particular issues faced by young people in the current economic climate and we want to support them and ensure that we are training a new generation for economic recovery.
Which employers will be offering Apprenticeships through this new incentive?
Our aim is to support employers to offer new and additional places in support of young people. Therefore we are targeting those employers who would not otherwise have been in a position to recruit an apprentice at this point in time or who are able to offer more Apprenticeship places than they would otherwise have done.
When will AGE 16 and 17 be available?
AGE 16 and 17 is available immediately to employers who are able to offer a job opportunity to an unemployed young person aged 16 or 17 and will be running until the end of March 2010.
Am I eligible for AGE 16 and 17?
- All unemployed 16 or 17 year olds who are not in employment or already on an Apprenticeship programme are eligible. This includes those who may have had a place in a college but have subsequently dropped out
- The young person must start an Apprenticeship programme before their 18th birthday and by the 31st March 2010
- If the young person is on a Programme Led Apprenticeship they are not eligible as they are already participating in an Apprenticeship programme.
To apply for an Apprenticeship is simple and straightforward.
More than 130,000 employers offer Apprenticeships and with many more employers taking advantage of AGE 16 and 17 there has never been a better time to apply for an Apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship vacancies
You can now apply for Apprenticeship vacancies online using a new system that lets you search for, view and then apply for Apprenticeships. Click here to search for vacancies.
If you are not quite ready to start applying online for Apprenticeship vacancies you can seek information, advice and guidance in a way that suits you.
Information and Advice
If you would like to speak about Apprenticeships with a career adviser face-to-face or on the phone contact:
Connexions (for ages 13-19)
Visit www.connexions-direct.com and click on the local services tab to find your nearest centre or call 080 800 13 2 19.
Last Updated: 22/01/2010