ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.

Apprenticeship fees and funding

In this section, you can find out everything you need to know about apprenticeship fees and government funding and grants for employers available for our finance and accountancy apprenticeship programmes. Whether you’re a levy or non-levy paying employer, we’ll go through the apprenticeship funding rules for employers and provide further information around funding for apprenticeships.

Register your interest

Find out more about our apprenticeships or about setting up a programme.

Find out more

Employer funding for apprenticeships

The government provides apprenticeship levy funds for employers, incentivising them to train and develop new talent.

The current incentives include: 

  • the existing £1,000 incentive that employers already receive for taking on an apprentice who meets workplace requirements
  • National Insurance savings of 15.05% for apprentices aged 25 years old and under

Apprenticeship funding for employers taking on new apprentices can be spent on anything to support your organisation's costs. This can be anything from uniforms to your apprentice's travel or salary.

In order to be of value to both employers and apprentices, the government sets out apprenticeship rules for employers to adhere to:
  • Apprenticeships offered last for at least a year
  • Roles are genuine for the apprentice to work in for the length of their apprenticeship
  • An apprenticeship agreement is established and upheld with an apprentice for its full duration
  • A commitment statement is signed by the employer, apprentice and registered training provider
  • A written contract is obtained for services agreed on with the training provider

Contact your local Business Development Manager to find out more about apprenticeship funding for employers and the business benefits of our finance and accountancy apprenticeships.

How does the apprenticeship levy work?

The apprenticeship levy was introduced to give employers more control when providing training opportunities. The introduction of apprenticeship levy funding means there is more money available than ever before for apprenticeship training. It allows employers to choose which apprenticeships they offer. Find out more about apprenticeship costs as a levy-paying or non-levy paying employer below:

Levy paying employers: funding for apprenticeships

All UK employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3m are charged a levy of 0.5%. Employers can spend their funds on ICAEW finance and accounting apprenticeships, for existing and new staff providing they meet the criteria.

Back to top

Non-levy paying employers: funding for apprenticeships

Employers who do not pay into the apprenticeship levy can access funding via a government-employer co-investment. Non-levy paying employers make a 5% contribution and the government will pay the remaining 95%.

Back to top