Local businesses could get up to £8,000 to take on a young apprentice

Local businesses in North East Lincolnshire could receive up to £8,000 in Government support for each eligible apprentice aged 16 to 24 they take on, through new funding designed to help employers bring young people into the workforce.

To make it easier for employers to access this support, InvestNEL, the business investment and support service run by North East Lincolnshire Council, has launched a new online apprenticeship enquiry form.

Businesses don’t need to know anything about apprenticeships before they get in touch. They simply need to fill in the form, and InvestNEL arranges for local apprenticeship providers to contact them directly. The providers then talk them through their options, from which apprenticeship would suit the business to the funding available. 

That means employers don’t have to research training providers, funding rules or eligibility themselves before taking the first step. 

What support is available? 

The Government has introduced new support this year for businesses taking on young apprentices, including a £2,000 hiring payment that started on 1 October 2026. 

For businesses that don’t pay the Growth and Skills Levy, which applies only to employers with an annual pay bill over £3 million, support for apprentices aged 16 to 24 includes: 

• Fully funded training - the Government covers all training and assessment costs
• £2,000 hiring payment for taking on a new employee aged 16 to 24 as an apprentice
• £1,000 for apprentices aged 16 to 18, or under 25 with an Education, Health and Care plan or who has been in care 
• £2,000 foundation apprenticeship incentive for apprentices aged 16 to 21 
• £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for hiring an 18 to 24-year-old who has been unemployed and on Universal Credit for six months or more. This is applied for directly through the Department for Work and Pensions 
• No employer National Insurance for apprentices under 25 

Payments can be combined, so depending on the apprentice’s age and circumstances, the total can reach £8,000. 

For apprentices aged 25 and over, the Government pays 95% of training costs and the employer pays the remaining 5%. 

Apprenticeships aren’t only for new recruits. Businesses are also urged to use them train existing staff within their business. 

To find out more or make an enquiry, visit https://my.nelincs.gov.uk/s/form/apprenticeships.

Once you submit the form, InvestNEL will pass your details to local apprenticeship providers, who will be in touch to talk through the next steps.