• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Devolution deal to secure funding for up to 700 apprentices

Apprentice training at a local providerTees Valley Combined Authority is one of only five Combined Authorities to receive devolved funding to deliver a grant scheme designed to enable small businesses to recruit young apprentices. 

The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers 16-24 (AGE) scheme provides funding of up to £3,500 for small businesses to employ individuals aged 16-24 years, through the apprenticeship programme with the potential of creating up to 700 apprentices.

The scheme is available only to those working to approved apprenticeship ‘Frameworks’ and is designed for businesses which would otherwise not have been in a position to employ an apprentice.

The Combined Authority will manage the assessment of applications in addition to processing the payments, and local eligibility criteria will apply. 

We are pleased to have negotiated the devolution of this critical funding for local businesses. 

We can now deliver support for apprenticeships using local flexibility to meet the needs of our local economy. 

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Lead Member for Skills for Tees Valley Combined Authority, said:  “The devolving of the AGE grant to the Combined Authority will create significant opportunities for our smaller employers, in that we can be more flexible with the eligibility and features of a local scheme to make it available to as many Tees Valley businesses as possible. 

“It will create more quality apprenticeships for our young people and provide employment and learning opportunities that will stand Tees Valley in good stead for the future.”

Full details of the AGE grant and the qualifying criteria can be found atwww.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/age  or by calling 01642 524412

By admin