16+/18+ choices overview

Employer Costs Incentives Training Duration Eligibility Progression More Information

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Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships provide a real job with substantive, sustained
high quality training in order to become occupationally
competent in the chosen industry with a broad range of
industries on offer.
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Wages of the apprentice – at least £4.15 /hour
A % of the cost of training for apprentices for
employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy at
a rate of 10% for starts prior to 01/04/19 and 5%
from that date, (note this can be supported by a levy
transfer, where an employer who pays the
apprenticeship levy transfers some of their funding
to an employer who does not pay the apprenticeship
levy)
No cost to employer for apprenticeship training if
they have less than 50 employees, and an apprentice
(on the first day of their apprenticeship) is aged 16-
18 or 19-24 with an Education, Health and Care plan
(EHC) or has been in the care of their local authority
Available from 1 August 2020 until 31 January Off-the-job (OTJ) training is required for the At least 12 Months Any age from 16+, Longer term Vacancies advertised on find an apprenticeship
2021 for new hires: purpose of achieving the knowledge, skills and but must be a new employment, training or https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
£2000 - 16-24 behaviours of the approved apprenticeship. hire to be eligible for Higher level or Degree Apply directly to vacancies and FE / independent training
£1500 – 25+ the incentive. A 15 Apprenticeships providers https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/
OTJ training can include training that is year old can start an dependent on
delivered at the apprentice’s normal place of apprenticeship role/occupation and https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
Payment is in addition to wider funding work. It can also include regular day release, providing the start is standards available advice/careerchoices-at-16
support for apprenticeship training/ block release and special training after the the last https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
assessment, and other existing payments to days/workshops. weekend in June and advice/career-choices-at-18
support specific groups of apprentices. they will be 16
At least 20% of an apprentice’s normal before the end of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules
Incentive payment can be spent on wide range working hours, over the planned duration of the academic year in
of costs to support an apprentice e.g. wages, the apprenticeship training period must be which they start
travel, mentoring. The incentive payment has spent on OTJ.
been created to help more people build skills
whilst working by becoming an apprentice,
employers can choose how to spend the
incentive to best support their apprentices

Kickstart No Cost 100% of wages are subsidised at NMW for up In work training to develop transferable skills 26 weeks 16-24 year olds Young person could Through job centre plus work coaches
to 25 hours, NI Contributions and auto to increase chances of longer term work who are currently progress to longer term https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme
High quality six-month work placements in ‘new’ jobs, aimed
enrolment cost. Funding for on the job start out of work and are employment or training
at those aged 16 to 24 who are currently out of work and are
up costs for example uniform, hard hat, IT deemed to be at risk provision which includes
deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment
equipment and other practical materials of long-term an apprenticeship
PLAN FOR AN AUTUMN START
unemployment

Traineeships No cost £1000 (limit of 10 incentive payments per ▪ Work preparation training with a training Duration can be 16-24 year olds with Apprenticeship, 1.Apply directly to college/training provider.
(Optional whether employer pays the young person employer) provider between 6 weeks a level 3 or below sustainable employment 2.Through Jobcentre plus advisors after making a claim for
Designed to help young people who want to get an
including payment for things like travel and ▪ English and maths, if qualified below and 12 months and up to age 25 for and further learning benefits.
apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or
subsistence) level 2, and digital training with a training those with an EHCP 3.Through National Careers Service
experience. Study based programmes, combined with work
provider Minimum 70 hours 4.GOV.uk – being updated to reflect new programme
placements, which give young people the opportunity to
▪ A work experience placement lasting 70- work experience. https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
develop workplace skills and experience; putting them in a
240 hours with an employer No more than 240 advice/careerchoices-at-16
better position to compete for future vacancies and
▪ They are also flexible so young people hours for benefit https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
opportunities
can access additional support such as claimants advice/career-choices-at-18
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mentoring and do additional
qualifications https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adult-education-budget-aeb-
▪ Can include optional technical and funding-rules-2020-to-2021
professional qualifications to help https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-funding-
learners prepare for occupational guidance
standards within apprenticeships

Industry Placements as part of T Levels No cost (optional whether employer pays the young Up to £750 through some providers, in Two – year occupational specific course Minimum of 315 16-19 year olds Young person could https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
person) selected regions only, for the 2020/21 equivalent to 3 A’ Levels hours (roughly 45 Young person must progress directly into
Form part of a Level 3 technical qualification, equivalent to 3 A
Academic Year as part of a pilot days) over 2 years. be studying a T Level employment, a higher or https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-industry-
Levels and based on the same employer designed standards
This can include up programme. degree apprenticeship or placements-delivery-guidance
as Apprenticeships.
to 35 hour of work further study
Offers a broader course content across an occupational route,
taster activities. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/t-levels-next-steps-for-
and students will also develop knowledge and skills that are
The only exception providers
required for an individual occupation
is the Early Years
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Educator
occupational
specialism, within https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
the Education and advice/careerchoices-at-16
Childcare T Level, https://lab.nationalcareersservice.org.uk/careers-
that must be for a advice/career-choices-at-18
minimum of 750
hours.