Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage employers in Kent to hire more apprentices.

This government is transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment, which will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships and give employers, including in Kent, greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need to grow and succeed.

As of August, the Government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s for employers of all sizes.

To support non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) to meet the additional costs associated with employing young people, we have introduced a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

We also provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.

These payments can be added together where the employer and/or apprentice are eligible.

The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises around 3,000 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England, including in Kent, through nine regional networks which provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.