From 1 October 2026, eligible non-levy employers in England may be able to receive up to £2,000 when recruiting a new apprentice aged 16–24. Combined with Government-funded apprenticeship training and potential National Insurance savings, apprenticeships can offer employers a cost-effective way to recruit and develop new talent. (GOV.UK)
If your business is planning to recruit, grow your team or develop the next generation of skilled employees, now is a good time to explore how apprenticeships could support your workforce strategy.
At B-Skill, we can also take the work out of finding an apprentice through our Free Apprenticeship Recruitment Service.
What Is the £2,000 Apprenticeship Hiring Payment?
From 1 October 2026, eligible employers that do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy may be able to receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000 when they recruit a new apprentice aged 16–24.
The payment is subject to the Government's eligibility criteria and funding rules. (GOV.UK)
The incentive is designed to encourage more employers to recruit young people and can help offset some of the costs associated with bringing a new employee into the business.
Depending on eligibility, employers may use employment-related support to help with costs such as:
- Equipment and workwear
- Onboarding and induction
- Workplace support and supervision
- Recruitment-related costs
- Other costs associated with employing an apprentice
The payment is made in instalments, subject to the relevant eligibility conditions. (GOV.UK)
Who Can Receive the £2,000 Payment?
The new hiring payment is aimed at non-levy-paying employers recruiting new apprentices aged 16 to 24.
To qualify, employers and apprentices must meet the Government's eligibility requirements. The apprentice must be a new employee and the apprenticeship must start from 1 October 2026 for the new hiring payment to apply. (GOV.UK)
If you're unsure whether your organisation or planned apprentice meets the criteria, B-Skill can help you understand the apprenticeship process and identify the appropriate next steps.
More Than Just a £2,000 Incentive
The hiring payment is only one part of the financial support available to eligible employers.
For eligible apprentices aged 16–24, the Government can cover 100% of apprenticeship training and assessment costs up to the relevant funding band maximum, subject to the apprenticeship funding rules. (GOV.UK)
Employers may also benefit from 0% employer secondary National Insurance contributions for eligible apprentices under 25, subject to the applicable earnings and apprenticeship requirements. (GOV.UK)
There may also be additional payments in certain circumstances, including a £1,000 payment for eligible apprentices aged 16–18, or aged 19–24 with an Education, Health and Care plan or who have been in care. (GOV.UK)
Important: funding and incentive eligibility depends on the individual apprentice, employer and apprenticeship. Employers should check the latest Government rules before making financial assumptions.
Why Recruit an Apprentice?
Recruitment can be challenging, particularly for businesses looking for people with the right skills, attitude and potential.
An apprenticeship gives employers an opportunity to recruit someone and develop their skills around the needs of the organisation.
Apprenticeships can help businesses to:
Build skills for your business
Develop employees with knowledge and skills relevant to your workplace.
Grow new talent
Bring motivated new people into your organisation and support their development from the start.
Develop future leaders
Create a pathway for employees to progress into more experienced, supervisory and management roles.
Strengthen retention
Investing in employee development can help create opportunities for people to build their careers within your organisation.
Build your future workforce
Rather than relying solely on recruiting experienced employees, businesses can develop talent internally and create a longer-term workforce pipeline.
Free Apprenticeship Recruitment from B-Skill
Finding the right apprentice doesn't have to mean spending time advertising vacancies, searching for candidates and managing the early stages of recruitment.
Through our Ready Steady Go recruitment service, B-Skill provides a Free Apprenticeship Recruitment Service to help employers find suitable apprenticeship candidates.
Our support can include:
- Access to motivated apprenticeship candidates
- Candidate screening and matching
- Recruitment support
- Guidance throughout the apprenticeship process
- Connecting candidates with suitable apprenticeship programmes
We'll help you find, screen and place the right apprentice for your business — at no recruitment cost.
B-Skill Apprenticeship Programmes
B-Skill offers apprenticeship programmes designed to support employers across a range of sectors and workforce needs.
Level 2 Administration Assistant Apprenticeship
Develop administrative skills including organisation, digital working, communication and information management.
Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship
Build confident customer service professionals who can communicate effectively and deliver positive customer experiences.
Level 3 Customer Service Specialist Apprenticeship
Develop advanced customer service, communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship
Support business efficiency through stronger organisation, coordination, communication and administration skills.
Level 3 Youth Support Worker Apprenticeship
Develop professionals who can support, engage and positively contribute to the development of young people.
Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship
Build knowledge and skills to identify, respond to and report safeguarding concerns while supporting safer environments.
Hire New Talent or Upskill Your Existing Team
Apprenticeships aren't only for new recruits.
Employers can also use apprenticeship programmes to upskill existing employees, helping them develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours while continuing to contribute to the organisation.
Whether you're:
- Recruiting your first apprentice
- Expanding your existing team
- Developing an existing employee
- Building future supervisors and managers
- Strengthening specialist skills
B-Skill can help you identify the right apprenticeship pathway.
Apprenticeships Are an Investment in Your Future Workforce
The financial incentives can make apprenticeships an attractive recruitment option, but the long-term value goes beyond the initial support.
By investing in people, employers can develop employees who gain recognised skills while learning within the organisation.
For businesses, this can mean developing talent around their own workplace needs, creating progression opportunities and building a stronger pipeline of future skills.
The £2,000 hiring payment can help you get started. The skills you develop can create value for years to come.
Ready to Hire or Upskill with B-Skill?
If you're considering recruiting a young apprentice or developing an existing employee, speak to B-Skill about your options.
Our team can help you explore suitable apprenticeship programmes and access our Free Apprenticeship Recruitment Service.
Find the Right Apprentice. Build the Right Skills.
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