News
Growth and Skills Levy Reforms: A New Opportunity for SMEs
Published: 8th of June 2026
The Government’s Growth and Skills Levy reforms will make Apprenticeships more accessible and affordable for small and medium-sized businesses, helping employers tackle skills shortages while supporting more young people into work.
What’s Changing?
From August 2026, Apprenticeship training for learners under 25 will be fully funded for non-levy paying employers, removing training costs altogether.
Employers may also be eligible for a range of financial incentives, including:
- £1,000 for hiring an Apprentice aged 16–18 (or eligible under-25s)
- £2,000 Foundation Apprenticeship incentive for eligible 16–21-year-olds
- £2,000 Apprenticeship Hiring Grant for non-levy employers recruiting a new employee aged 16–24 (from October 2026)
- £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for eligible 18–24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit for six months or more
- No employer National Insurance contributions for Apprentices under 25
- £3,000 bursary support for eligible care leavers and young people in care
Many employers may be able to access more than one incentive, creating significant savings while investing in future talent.
Why Hire an Apprentice?
Apprenticeships help businesses develop skilled employees, fill skills gaps, improve productivity and build a strong talent pipeline. With increased government funding and support, there has never been a better time to recruit an Apprentice.
Partner with Apprenticeships+
Apprenticeships+ supports employers throughout the recruitment process, from promoting vacancies to candidate selection and enrolment. With a 92% vacancy fill rate and an average time-to-fill of just two weeks, we help businesses recruit high-quality Apprentices across a wide range of sectors.
Get Started
The Growth and Skills Levy reforms offer SMEs a valuable opportunity to access funding, benefit from new incentives and invest in the workforce of the future.
To find out how Apprenticeships+ can help you recruit your next Apprentice and access available financial support, contact us at apprenticeshipsandtraining@sheffcol.ac.uk.
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