Use the links below to find the information you need:
Pay levels and costs to your business of trainees and apprenticeships
Funding to help with the cost of employing a trainee or apprentice
Malvern Hills Upskilling Grant
List your apprenticeship vacancies
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are an excellent way to recruit new employees who can be trained and developed to support business needs whilst building their skills and knowledge.
Apprenticeships can also be used to upskill existing employees for new or developing roles. The apprenticeship programme is tailored to the employer – you are in the driving seat.
The Government's guide to recruiting an apprentice gives an overview of the process.
The Worcestershire Apprenticeship service can advise on apprenticeships and will help match your businesses to the appropriate training organisation. Visit their website for more information.
Read the Worcestershire SME employer guide to hiring an apprentice.
Free government training
You can give your staff aged 19 and over time off in the working week to take up free training in qualifications such as accounting and finance, digital and more.
These free qualification are open to those who:
- are 19 or over and do not already have a level 3 qualification
- already have a level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage annually
- already have a level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed
- Find out more about free government training courses
Pay levels for your trainee and costs to the business of employing an apprentice
Keep up to date with the correct wage for your apprentice on the Government website. You may also have to pay pension and national insurance contributions and for your workplace insurance you will have employee liability costs. There will also be some costs associated with the training of an apprenticeship. Worcestershire Apprenticeships can advise.
Funding to help with the cost of employing a trainee or apprentice
SkillsBoost Worcestershire
SkillsBoost Worcestershire is a new programme to help organisations with the costs of upskilling and training their employees.
Worcestershire organisations can claim 50% of the training costs back, up to £6,000, for their Worcestershire based employees. This means that the new funding can allow organisations to upskill or redeploy their employees to maximise their effectiveness.
Businesses of any size and sector are eligible for the programme as long as the employees they are looking to upskill or retrain reside in Worcestershire. The SkillsBoost programme is being delivered in collaboration with Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire Growth Hub.
Funding for the SkillsBoost programme is limited on a first come first served basis.
The SkillsBoost Worcestershire programme is now closed.
Government funding for training
You can get help from the Government to pay the training costs of your apprentice(s). How much you will receive will depend on whether or not you pay the Apprenticeship Levy. The levy is paid by businesses with a turnover of £3million or more.
If you do not pay the levy then you will have to pay 5% towards the cost of training your apprentice(s) with the Government paying the rest up to a maximum level.
If you do pay the levy, then you'll get money to spend on training and assessing your apprentices with the Government adding 10%.
Find out more about the apprenticeship levy on the Government's website or contact Worcestershire Apprenticeships on 0300 666 3 666 or email
Government Payments for hiring a young apprentice
Employers and training providers could get £1,000 each for taking on an apprentice who is either:
- aged 16 to 18 years old, or
- aged 19 to 25 years old and has an education, health and care (EHC) plan or has been in the care of their local authority
Find out more: Payments for hiring a young apprentice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Malvern Hills Upskilling Grant
Malvern Hills District Council is helping local businesses create their workforce of the future through the Upskilling Grant Scheme. We will provide funding of up to £1,500 to help with the business cost of training new staff (i.e. apprenticeships, trainee or other).
In order to qualify the business must:
- Be based in the Malvern Hills district postcode area.
- Employ fewer than 250 people.
- Pay at least the Minimum Wage to the trainee for a post of at least 30 hrs a week including training leading to a recognised qualification.
- The apprentice/ trainee must have started their training after 1 October 2023 and have at least a 12 month signed employment contract.
You will also need to provide the following evidence:
- Proof of enrolment on a training course signed by the employer and training referrer/provider organisation
- Copy of the contract of employment
- Signed Grant Agreement between employer and Malvern Hills District Council
- Any additional evidence requested by Malvern Hills District Council
This is currently under review, please email
Please read the Malvern Hills Upskilling Grant terms and conditions before applying for the grant.
List your apprenticeship vacancies
If you have have apprenticeship vacancies but are struggling for applicants then list them with Worcestershire Apprentices and they will refer you to a training provider who will help you recruit the right person for your needs.