Hire an apprentice

Hire an apprentice, made in Kent.

We're passionate about apprenticeships. Taking on an apprentice can be a great way to bring new talent into your workplace or upskill your existing staff.

That's why we offer expert advice and support to Kent employers to guide you through the process from start to finish, making it easier for you to recruit the right apprentice for your business.

You can speak to our experts to:

  • find out more about apprenticeships and how your business could benefit
  • get help with working out what apprenticeship standard is right for your business
  • get advice and help with recruiting apprentices
  • find out what funding is available to your business for apprenticeships.

Visit the Kent Choices website to find out about hiring an apprentice.

Apprenticeship levy funds

We are an apprenticeship levy payer and have been able to invest in high-quality training to develop our skilled workforce and recruit apprentices.

Government reforms mean we can transfer up to 25% of our apprenticeship levy funds to Kent employers. This is an opportunity for us to support employers to improve the knowledge and skills of the wider Kent workforce.

Since 2019, our levy has enabled 210 employees across Kent to access apprenticeship training, with further applications agreed. This is a significant investment in Kent employers and employees of which we are proud.

Employers who can receive transferred levy funds

Employers can be:

  • Kent employers in our supply chain
  • Kent employers in voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors
  • Kent schools that do not pay into the council’s apprenticeship levy
  • levy or non-levy paying employers.

Employers must:

  • be registered on the apprenticeship service (we can support you with this)
  • have an agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). This will be set up when you register on the apprenticeship service
  • only use the funds for training and assessment for apprenticeship standards (frameworks not eligible)
  • only use the funds for training and assessment of either new apprentices or existing employees undertaking apprenticeships.

We are not able to transfer funds:

  • for apprenticeship training that has already started
  • where the receiving employer is eligible for full government funding, as they have fewer than 50 employees and on the first day of their apprenticeship, the apprentice is:
    • 19 to 24 years old and has either an Education, Health Care Plan (EHCP) provided by their local authority, or has been in the care of their local authority.

Criteria for bids

So there is maximum benefit from the levy funds, employers need to demonstrate how the funding for the apprenticeship programme will contribute to our strategic outcomes. This is our vision for improving lives by ensuring every pound spent in Kent is delivering better outcomes for Kent’s residents, communities and businesses, the 4 key priorities are:

  • levelling up Kent
  • infrastructure for communities
  • environmental step change
  • new models for care and support.

Bids will be prioritised using the following criteria:

  • Priority 1 - creating apprenticeship opportunities for disadvantaged groups living in Kent (for example: care leavers, NEETs, those with disabilities, long term unemployed)
  • Priority 2 - wider social care provision
  • Priority 3 - addressing skill shortages in Kent.

Apply for funds

Applications for levy transfer are now open. To apply for transfer funding complete the expression of interest form.

Apply now

Advice and support

For more information view our flowchart about the Sharing the Levy process (PDF, 324.2 KB).

For apprenticeship advice or support, please contact the National Apprenticeship Helpdesk:

To find out how to identify recognised apprenticeship training standards, visit the find apprenticeship training website.

Visit the National Apprenticeship website for for the latest apprenticeship news and information.

Download and print our 'Sharing the Levy' flyer (PDF, 2.6 MB).

Contact us

Our team of experts are available to help you recruit the right apprentice for your business.

Call 03301 65 11 70
Email apprenticekent@theeducationpeople.org

Request a call back