Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership has secured £184,000 to help small and medium sized businesses take on an apprentice and drive economic growth.
Gloucestershire LEP wants to encourage more businesses to take on an apprentice for the first time and has secured £184,000 from the government to offer a cash incentive of £1,500 from the National Apprenticeship Service.
Sarah Danson, Development Manager at economic development company GFirst, which drives Gloucestershire LEP, said: “ In the last few years Gloucestershire’s small and medium sized businesses have really stepped up to the plate to take hundreds of apprenticeships across the county. In our latest Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Challenge campaign with colleges in Gloucestershire we saw 140 new businesses sign-up to take on an apprentice for the first time and we want that enthusiasm to continue.
“Apprenticeships are key to economic growth and with these cash incentives on offer we see this as a win-win situation for our businesses and hope they will commit to take on an apprentice as soon as possible.”
The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) is open to small and medium sized business in Gloucestershire with less than 250 members of staff recruiting an apprentice aged 16-24, if they’ve not employed an apprentice within the last three years. In addition, each business can apply for funding for up to three grants, for each apprentice they take on.
Terry Chappell from the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “This initiative from Gloucestershire LEP just shows the importance businesses are putting on apprenticeships and we are delighted to be working with them to offer this opportunity to small and medium sized enterprises in the county.
“At the National Apprenticeship Service we know how important apprenticeships are not only for individuals but also for businesses and we hope Gloucestershire companies will take the opportunity to employ an apprentice and make use of these grants.”
To apply for the AGE or to find out more about taking on an apprentice contact Sarah Danson at GFirst on 01452 328318 or email sarah.danson@glosfirst.co.uk.