Tees Valley Combined Authority supports employers in the Tees Valley local authority areas of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees to create new Apprenticeship opportunities. 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 after 30th November 2018. The Apprenticeship training must be provided by a training provider approved by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
The initiative in particular supports SMEs who create apprenticeships in sectors facing high demand from employers, identified in the Tees Valley Strategic Economic Plan, including:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Process, Chemicals and Energy
- Logistics
- Health and Biologics
- Digital and Creative
- Business and Professional Services
- Construction
- Health Care
- Culture & Leisure
The initiative will also offer support to smaller companies taking on apprentices aged 19+, often for the first time. There will also be a drive to establish high quality, higher and degree level apprenticeships in the priority sectors.
There are two separate and distinct offers of grant which employers can apply for provided that their apprentice is following an approved Apprenticeship Standard or Framework and all other eligibility criteria are met.
Details of what funding is on offer can be found here.