Apply for funding from our apprenticeship levy | Apprenticeships

The apprenticeship levy is a payment the government requires from UK employers to fund new apprenticeships. It is charged at the rate of 0.5% of an employer's pay bill. Employers receive an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment.

As an employer, Thurrock Council pays the apprenticeship levy. Government rules allow us to transfer up to 25% of our levy funds to support other employers to improve the skills and knowledge of the local workforce through apprenticeships.

Employers can use this funding either for new apprentices or for current employees who undertake a new apprenticeship. Funds can be used towards training and assessment to meet apprenticeship standards. Funds cannot be used for apprentices that have already started their apprenticeship.

Advice and support

For information on employing an apprentice, funding for apprenticeships, and incentive payments available, go to GOV.UK: Apprenticeships.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education can help you search the range of apprenticeships available and find local organisations to provide training.

You can get more advice and support from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), including video guides on the ESFA Digital blog.

Who can apply for funding

To apply for funding from our apprenticeship levy, employers must:

be registered on the apprenticeship service – go to GOV.UK: How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer
have set-up an agreement with the ESFA as part of registering for the apprenticeship service
be based in Thurrock

If you need help with registering for the apprenticeship service, or advice and support to start an apprenticeship, contact the National Apprenticeship Helpdesk.

How to apply for funding

Unfortunately, we are not accepting apprenticeship levy transfer requests at this time. This is reviewed periodically, so please check back in the future. In the meantime, you may wish to explore other levy transfer options through the government’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Matching Service at Find a business to fund apprenticeship training