Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data the Department holds on how many eligible employers did not recruit an apprentice in each of the last five academic years, and if this is recorded by (a) employer size, (b) sector and (c) region.

The department does not collect data on the number of eligible businesses that do not recruit apprentices.

However, we recognise the critical role employers of all sizes play in creating apprenticeship opportunities and have introduced a range of measures to support them to do so.

The Government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, prioritising funding and opportunities towards young people. We have introduced a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, that recruit a 16–24-year-old as a new employee. Employers recruiting apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months are also eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

These payments can be combined, where eligible, with existing payments including the £1,000 payment for taking on 16-18-year-old apprentices and the £2,000 payment for foundation apprentices.

Alongside this, employers benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.

The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), which comprises around 2,000 employer and apprentice who actively volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England through nine regional networks which provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.