If you’re considering bringing onboarding an apprentice for the first time or rewarding your existing team with an apprenticeship programme, our employer information will provide you with valuable information and guidance.
Discover how apprenticeships can significantly contribute to your organisation, exploring the diverse range of benefits they bring, from fostering talent development to enhancing productivity. Our employer information will help you understand the funding and support available from the UK Government for apprenticeships and how to gain access to these funds. You can also find out more about off-the-job training requirements and the End-Point Assessment process, which are two critical elements of all apprenticeship programmes.
Read our latest newsletter for employer news, updates and opportunities.
Download our apprenticeship mentor handbook, a comprehensive guide for mentors supporting apprentices in the workplace.
Just like any other staff member, you will pay your apprentice directly. You are also accountable for providing them with their employment contract. Find specific guidance here.
As the apprenticeship landscape continues to evolve, it’s important for employers to stay informed about the latest developments to apprenticeship funding and policy.
Recent changes to the Apprenticeship Levy are designed to increase flexibility, improve accessibility and better support workforce development across sectors. Whether you are already using levy funding or exploring apprenticeships for the first time, understanding these updates can help you make the most of the opportunities available. Find out more on these changes and what they could mean for your organisation on the Department for Education website.
The Government is delivering the biggest package of employer incentives for apprenticeships in over a decade. These incentives sit alongside fully or majority funded training for many under 25s and employer. National Insurance relief is available where applicable.
Young Apprentice Payment
£1,000 – Available now
Applies when you recruit:
- An apprentice aged 16-18-, or 19–24-year-olds with an EHCP or care leaver status
- Available for employers of all sizes
- Payments are processed by the training provider
Payment is available now for eligible apprentices
Foundation Apprenticeship Incentive
Up to £2,000 – Available now
Applies when you recruit a Foundation Apprentice who is:
- Aged 16-21, or
- 22-24 with EHCP care experience or custodial background
- Available for employers of all sizes
- Payments are processed by the training provider
Supports young people not yet ready for a full apprenticeship, with progression into skilled employment
Non-Levy Hiring Grant
£2,000 – Available from October 2026
Applies when a non-levy paying employer recruits an additional apprentice aged 16-24
- Payments are processed by the training provider
- The apprentice can have joined the employer up to 3 months before their apprentice training start date.
Sits alongside:
- Full or majority funding of training costs for many under 25s
- Employer National Insurance relief where applicable
Youth Jobs Grant
£3,000 – Available from June 2026
Applies when you hire an 18–24-year-old who has been:
- On Universal Credit, and
- Seeking work for six months or more
- Available for employers of all sizes
- Payments made to the employer directly
Designed to reduce recruitment risk and help employers engage young people who may otherwise struggle to access opportunities
Non-Levy Hiring Grant
£2,000 – Available from October 2026
Applies when a non-levy paying employer recruits an additional apprentice aged 16-24
- Payments are processed by the training provider
- The apprentice can have joined the employer up to 3 months before their apprentice training start date.
How Incentives Can Work Together
The Apprenticeship Service is a government online platform which allows employers to set up and manage their apprenticeships.
All employers must have an Apprenticeship Service account. You can create an account via the government site. In order to do this, you will need:
- An email address you can access.
- Government Gateway login for your organisation (if you are a non-levy paying organisation, you can use the accounts office reference number and employer PAYE scheme reference number).
- Authority to add PAYE schemes to the account.
- Authority to accept the employer agreement on behalf of organisation.
Please get in touch for more information and guidance when setting up the AS account.
Off-the-job training is a requirement for all apprentices. Apprentices are entitled to spend a set minimum number of hours undertaking structured learning that takes place outside of their usual daily duties and is designed to build the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for their apprenticeship.
This training does not necessarily require the apprentice to be physically away from the workplace; it can be carried out flexibly to accommodate both the apprentice and the employer.
Off-the-job training can include:
- Attending formal workshops and training sessions with OxPE
- Independent study during work hours
- Participation in webinars / reading materials related to the apprenticeship
- Shadowing colleagues
- Working on projects that develop new competencies
Both the apprentice and their line manager share responsibility for ensuring that these hours are scheduled, recorded, and used effectively to support the apprentice’s progress and achievement of their qualification.
To be eligible for government funding, an apprentice must spend the minimum number of off-the-job training hours as published by the apprenticeship funding rules 2025/26. The minimum hours may however be reduced if apprentices have evidenced prior learning.
If you are looking to recruit an apprentice, OxPE can help advertise for you on the Find an Apprenticeship website. This is a free of charge service. Please get in touch for more information.
End-Point Assessment (EPA) is changing to create a more streamlined, flexible, and employer-focused apprenticeship assessment process while maintaining quality and occupational competence.
The apprenticeship assessment changes are being introduced gradually from 2025 onwards, with revised assessment plans being implemented as individual apprenticeship standards are updated and approved by Skills England.
Skills England and the Department for Education are aiming for all apprenticeship standards and assessment plans to be reviewed and updated under the new apprenticeship assessment reforms by August 2026, although implementation timelines may vary by sector and standard.
What Are the Changes?
The updated approach simplifies apprenticeship assessment by:
- reducing duplication in behavioural assessment
- placing behavioural sign-off with employers
- allowing providers greater involvement in some assessment activity
- maintaining quality and consistency through assessment organisations
Roles and Responsibilities in Apprenticeship Assessment
Employers
Employers play a key role in confirming that apprentices have demonstrated the behaviours required within the occupational standard during their day-to-day role. As these behaviours are observed in the workplace, employers are best placed to verify competence through normal line management and performance discussions.
Under the new assessment approach, behaviours will no longer be separately assessed by training providers or assessment organisations, reducing duplication and streamlining the process. Employers must confirm behavioural competence before apprenticeship completion and certification can be requested.
Training Providers
Training providers will continue to support apprentices throughout their programme, helping them prepare for assessment and, where permitted within the assessment plan, may deliver and mark some assessment elements.
Assessment Organisations
Assessment organisations remain responsible for designing assessment materials and ensuring assessments are delivered consistently, fairly, and in line with apprenticeship assessment plans.
This creates a more streamlined process while ensuring apprentices continue to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for occupational competence.
Oxford Professional Education: Your Apprenticeship Partner
Oxford Professional Education (OxPE) has been delivering high quality professional qualifications and apprenticeships for over 20 years. As an Ofsted Good provider, we deliver a wide range of exceptional apprenticeships that focus on adding real value to businesses and upskilling employees. Our success rate is outstanding, with 76% of our apprentices achieving a Distinction and an overall 100% pass rate. We teach bespoke programmes in the areas of Marketing, Sales, PR, Management, Procurement, Project Management, HR, and Finance.
Over the years, we have partnered with businesses of all sizes across a wide range of industries throughout the United Kingdom. Our training is specifically developed in line with your needs and requirements, focusing on flexible delivery modes and small cohort sizes. By collaborating with internal mentors and experienced personal trainers, our apprentices learn practical skills, develop talent, and help grow workforces.
What Our Customers Say
“I would highly recommend taking on an apprentice. It is an opportunity to ‘grow your own’ talent and bring a fresh perspective to the workplace. The team at OxPE supports both our apprentice and the wider company to get the best out of the programme. OxPE is a flexible and responsive organisation that supports both apprentices and employers.”
Natalie Sowden, Procurement and Governance Manager at ODS.
“It was very straightforward to apply to take on an apprentice. The team at Oxford Professional Education were a great help with answering questions and taking us through the process. OxPE are flexible and always offer help and support where they can. I would definitely recommend them to other employers.”
Lisa Collard, Business Manager at Broadway Events Limited.
Our Apprentice Stories
