The Apprenticeship Recovery Package focuses on retaining or recruiting apprentices into the industry. It was launched last month by the Department for the Economy, in a move to help the apprenticeship system respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Over recent years the widely established CITB NI grants scheme has supported over 400 young apprentices who joined the industry in the last four years. Due to the successful uptake of the apprenticeship grant in recent years, CITB NI has maintained this grant which means that £6,500 can be claimed for a fully employed apprentice over a 3-year period. In CITB NI’s last training year, which incorporated five months of lockdown, the organisation paid local construction employers over £500k to support apprentices.
Within the Apprenticeship Recovery Package employers can claim:
– Up to a maximum of £3,700 for retained apprentices, payable from the Government Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme
https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-apprenticeship-return-retain-and-result-scheme
– Up to £3,000 to support the recruitment of new apprentices https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/coronavirus-recruitment-new-apprenticeships
There is also up to £1,500 available from the Department for the Economy for employers who employ an apprentice from the start of their apprenticeship through to completion of their NVQ Level 2 and 3 on the ApprenticeshipsNI Programme. This funding is paid via the training provider.
Barry Neilson, CITB NI Chief Executive said:
“The Government has recognised that apprentices are a casualty of COVID-19. With many contracts paused or closed; some construction employers had no option but to furlough apprentices or make them redundant. The combined funding now available from both the CITB NI grants scheme and the Government Apprenticeship Recovery Package is a great incentive to help construction employers plan their training, develop their business and play an active role in moulding their future workforce. There are many benefits to employing an apprentice including filling initial skills gaps, benefiting from fresh thinking, boosting staff retention, reducing recruitment costs and helping the economy. Apprentices are good for business overall and both CITB NI and the Government see the potential for all sectors including construction.”
At the launch of the Government Apprenticeship Recovery Package Economy Minister, Diane Dodds said:
“I want to minimise apprenticeship job losses, maintain and grow the supply of apprenticeship opportunities and support apprentices who have been displaced and lost their apprenticeship. I am committed to doing everything within my power to ensure the continued development of an effective skills pipeline which will support the needs of both employers and our economy whilst also providing valuable employment for our young people.”
To find out more about CITB NI apprenticeship grants and the Department for the Economy Apprenticeship Recovery Package log on to https://www.citbni.org.uk/Apprenticeships.aspx
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