Following a successful scheme which helped support over 1,000 apprentices in the last year, a new drive to accelerate the number of high quality apprenticeships is being funded by Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).
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The initiative will in particular support SMEs who create apprenticeships in sectors facing high demand from employers including:
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- Advanced Manufacturing; n
- Process, chemicals and energy; n
- Logistics; n
- Health and biologics; n
- Digital and creative; n
- Business and professional services. n
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The initiative will offer support to smaller companies taking on apprentices aged 19-24, often for the first time and there will also be a drive to establish high quality, higher and degree level apprenticeships in the priority sectors.
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This support is designed to assist employers who are committed to creating a new apprenticeship or progressing an existing apprentice onto a higher level of apprenticeship. Apprentices must start their learning between 1st August 2017 and 31st July 2018 and the Apprenticeship training must be provided by a training provider approved by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
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There are two separate and distinct offers of grant which employers can apply for provided that their apprentice is following a recognised Apprenticeship Standard or Framework and all other eligibility criteria are met
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Grant A provides a grant of £2,500 per apprentice for small to medium businesses (249 or less employees) from Tees Valley Combined Authority’s identified priority sectors who employ an apprentice aged 19+, working towards a Tees Valley Combined Authority recognised priority sector specific qualification from the Apprenticeship Standards or Frameworks (up to a maximum of three apprentices per year), Please see the supporting documents to confirm if the qualification is one of Tees Valley Combined Authority’s identified priority qualifications. Tees Valley Combined Authority will determine if your company falls within one of our identified priority sectors.
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OR
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Grant B:
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An initial grant of £500 per apprentice for small businesses (49 or less employees) who employ an apprentice aged 19-24. In order to encourage high quality and sustainable employment for the apprentice an additional £500 will be paid if the apprentice continues to be in employment more than 13 months after the date of starting their apprenticeship (up to a maximum of three apprentices per year).
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Please note: You cannot be eligible for both Grant A and Grant B
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How to Apply
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Information is available here.
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The Apprenticeship Support for Employers Grant Application Form is available to download on the TVCA website.
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Please use the postcode checker first to see if you could be eligible to apply.
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The employer is required to return a completed Application Form and De-Minimis Aid Declaration to the Project Team at Tees Valley Combined Authority. The Project Team will acknowledge receipt and the application will then be assessed against the eligibility criteria.
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All employers will be contacted by the Project Team to advise on the status of their application within 10 working days.
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To apply for the Apprenticeship Support for Employers Grant please fully complete the Application Form and De Minimis Aid Declaration and send to : Project.Team@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk or Tees Valley Combined Authority, Cavendish House, Teesdale Business Park, Stockton-on-Tees, Tees Valley, TS17 6QY.
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Any enquiries can be sent to Project.Team@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk or 01642 527985.