Information for Employers

Looking to grow your business by investing in your team?

At Waverley Training Services we partner with employers to deliver work-based training that builds skills, boosts productivity, and develops talent within.

We work with over 30 Employers across Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire from large organisations to small and medium sized businesses.

Why work with us

There are a number of benefits to working with Waverley Training:

Industry aligned training.
Government-funded apprenticeship programs.
Ongoing support and mentoring.
Tailored solutions for upskilling your team.

Recruiting an Apprentice

If you are planning on recruiting an Apprentice, we can provide the following support with the recruitment process:

Work with the allocated Line Manager to ensure that the correct Apprenticeship Standard has been chosen for the role by reviewing the job specification.
Advertise via the official gov.uk Apprenticeship vacancy website.
Screening suitable applicants to ensure that they are eligible for funding.
Providing information, advice and guidance to applicants on Apprenticeships so that they fully understand the requirements.

We understand that some Employers wish to carry out the recruitment of Apprentices themselves, however it is important that as the Training Provider we are aware of all vacancies. This is to ensure that the correct Apprenticeship Standard has been aligned with the job specification and or description.

We also ask that prior to any unconditional offers of employment being made, we are provided the opportunity to carry out the necessary eligibility checks. This is to ensure that any individual who is offered an Apprenticeship would be able to be funded under the DfE Apprenticeship funding rules. These checks must be carried out prior to the Apprentice starting their position.

There are no age limits on who can start an Apprentice; however Employers must take into consideration and plan accordingly regarding the wages of an Apprentice.

For the first year of an Apprenticeship, Apprentices regardless of age, are entitled to at least the Apprentice minimum wage.
Apprentices aged 19 or over, are entitled to the minimum wage for their age once they have completed the first year of the Apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship funding

Apprenticeships are funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) using the Growth and Skills Levy. This was introduced in 2017 to support employers to invest in high quality apprenticeship training and to ensure sustainable funding for employers of all sizes.

The cost of each Learner’s Apprenticeship will be agreed at the beginning of their Apprenticeship after all assessments of eligibility and recognised prior learning have been completed.

The Growth and Skills Levy funds now has an expiration window of 12 months if not used, the oldest funds within your account will continue to be used first. Funds that entered in to your account before or on the 31st of July 2026 will continue to expire after 24 months.

How an Apprenticeship is funded is dependent on whether an organisation is classed as a Levy or Non-Levy Employer.

An Employer is classed as a Levy Employer if they have an annual wage bill of more than £3 million.
An Employer is classed as a Non-Levy Employer if they have an annual wage bill of less than £3 million.

Levy employers

80% of the agreed cost (up to the funding band maximum) will be taken from the Employer’s Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account in equal monthly instalments over the duration of the Practical Period and paid to the Training Provider.

The remaining balance (20%) of the agreed cost (up to the funding band maximum) will be taken from the Employer’s DAS account and paid to the Training Provider when Learners have undertaken all the activity relevant to the Apprenticeship, including attempting all elements of the EPA/ AA.

Co-investment rates

Employers pay part of the remaining training costs, this is known as Co-investment.

When your levy funds run out, you'll pay:

0% for under 25's, with training costs being fully funded.
25% of training costs (co-investment) for over 25's.

Non-Levy employers

The DfE will fund 95% of the agreed cost (up to the funding band maximum). The Employer is required to pay the remaining 5%. The government will fully fund apprenticeships for eligible people aged 16 to 24.

Levy-paying employers can transfer a percentage of their levy funds, which were declared for the previous tax year, to other employers. The annual transfer allowance percentage is currently set at 50%. The transfer amount should cover 100% of the eligible training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum of the selected Apprenticeship Standard.

In line with the DfE funding rules, no Learner should be expected to make any financial contribution towards the Apprenticeship. This includes both where the individual has completed the Apprenticeship successfully or has left the programme early.

There is new and existing financial support available and employers can claim more than one of these payments, these are typically claimed by the provider and passed on to the employer.

Additional Payment for hiring apprentices £1000:

available to all employer types
age eligibility: 16 to 18 (and under 25 with an EHC plan or care leavers)
paid in two equal installments

Foundation apprenticeship incentive £2000:

available to all employer types
age 16 to 21 (and under 25 with an EHC plan, care leavers or prisoners & prison leavers)
paid in three equal instalments

Apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy employers £2000:

available to non-levy employers only
16 to 24 (new employees only)
paid in two equal instalments

Youth Jobs grants £3000:

available to all employer types
18 to 24, if an apprentice has been unemployed and on universal credit for 6 months or more
paid in two installments, directly to employers by the Department for Work & Pensions

Additional benefits for taking on a young person:

100% training costs covered for new starts under 25
no employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25
£3000 bursary available to care leavers and young people in care under 25 starting an apprenticeship
up to £4500 bursary, targeted housefolds in receipt of Universal Credit

Looking to grow your business by investing in your team?

Why work with us

Recruiting an Apprentice

Apprenticeship funding

Levy employers

Non-Levy employers

About us

Digital and accessibility

Legal

Information for employers

Looking to grow your business by investing in your team?

Why work with us

Recruiting an Apprentice

Apprenticeship funding

Levy and Non-Levy

Levy employers

Non-Levy employers

Transfer of funds

Available financial support