For electrical and heating and plumbing employers with a London postcode, there’s added reason to act swiftly in making apprenticeship recruitment decisions as a result of funding available from January 1, 2015, from the European Social Fund.
Grants of up to £3,000 are available on a first come first served basis through training providers such as JTL, as long as the person engaged is between the ages of 16-24. The scheme is available to employers with up to 249 employees and to qualify, the company must have a London postcode.
This financial support scheme will run from January 1 until June 30, 2015, but the funding of £14 million is likely to be exhausted before this cut-off date. JTL is recommending that employers discuss this with them at the earliest opportunity so they don’t miss out on this important funding opportunity.
“It is important that our industry receives its due share of the available funding,” said Richard Allen, JTL’s communications manager.
“There is clearly a need to build upon the number of young people with skills in electrical work as well as heating and plumbing in London, and this scheme provides a real opportunity.”
To qualify for receipt of the grant, an apprentice must be in learning for a minimum of 13 weeks. One grant is provided for each apprentice, with a single company being able to claim for a maximum of five apprentices appointed in the first half of 2015.