Small businesses in the south west with fewer than ten employees are being offered the chance of starting the New Year with a £1k bonus if they recruit an apprentice aged between 16 and 18.
The scheme has been launched by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) as a way of encouraging firms to take on young people and train them ‘on the job’ – developing the specific skills needed to make the business more productive, profitable and competitive.
Small businesses which already employ a 16 to 18 year old are also eligible for a £500 payment if they move that employee onto the Apprenticeship programme.
A new dedicated Employer Services team within the NAS means that managing the process of taking on an apprentice is even easier, with support being provided from first enquiry to completion.
“Our job is to ensure that everything goes smoothly so that small businesses maximise the benefits that Apprenticeships bring,” said Rob Sly, employer services director for the NAS in the South West. “We understand that small business employers are very busy people who need to see results when they try something new or different. That is why we work hard to make that happen.”
