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Recruiting a new apprentice?

You could receive up to £3,000 in apprenticeship employer incentives

Recruit an eligible apprentice aged 16–24 and benefit from:

🪙 UP TO £3,000 Government support
🪙 £0 Apprenticeship training for eligible 16–24-year-olds
🪙 £0 HBTC apprentice recruitment fee

Whether you already have a vacancy in mind or you’re simply thinking about growing your team, HBTC can help you access available apprenticeship employer incentives, find the right person, arrange their apprenticeship and support you throughout their training.

Eligibility criteria apply. The new apprenticeship hiring payment is available to eligible non-levy paying employers.

What apprenticeship employer incentives could we receive?

Apprenticeships have just become even more attractive for employers

If you’re thinking about recruiting, new government support and funding for hiring apprentices could significantly reduce the cost of taking on an apprentice.

£2,000

New apprenticeship hiring payment

From 1 October 2026, eligible non-levy paying employers recruiting a new apprentice aged 16–24 could receive a new government hiring payment of £2,000, providing valuable funding for hiring apprentices.

+ £1,000

Additional support and apprenticeship grants for employers

Employers can already receive an additional £1,000 when an apprentice is:
✅ aged 16–18 when they start their apprenticeship; or
✅ aged 19–24 and meets certain additional eligibility criteria, including having an Education, Health and Care Plan or having been in local authority care.

= UP TO £3,000

For some eligible apprentices, the two payments could mean:

UP TO £3,000 IN TOTAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Not sure what your business would qualify for?

£0 Apprenticeship Training

Your apprentice’s training could cost your business absolutely nothing!

For new apprenticeship starts from 1 August 2026, the government will fund 100% of the training and assessment costs, up to the apprenticeship funding band maximum, for eligible 16–24-year-olds working for employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy. You can read more about apprenticeship funding and employer eligibility on GOV.UK.

That means you can concentrate on finding the right person for your business without having to contribute towards their apprenticeship training, making funding for hiring apprentices more accessible than ever.

Recruiting someone aged 16–24? Talk to us before you advertise.

Free Apprentice Recruitment

We’ll help you find the apprentice too and maximise the business benefits of hiring apprentices

funding for hiring apprentices

You don’t need to already have someone in mind.

HBTC provides employers with a free apprentice recruitment service, helping you find candidates who are genuinely interested in your opportunity.

We can help you:

✅ arrange the apprenticeship training once you’ve chosen the right person
✅ discuss what you’re looking for
✅ make sure the role is suitable for an apprenticeship
✅ advertise your apprenticeship vacancy
✅ attract and screen applicants
✅ provide you with suitable candidate CVs
✅ support you through the interview and selection process;

Already Recruiting?

Already advertising a vacancy? Could it become an apprenticeship?

If you’re currently looking for a new member of staff, it may be worth speaking to HBTC before you make an appointment.

Many entry-level roles can provide the opportunity for someone to develop through an apprenticeship while becoming a valuable member of your team. This is one of the key business benefits of hiring apprentices, helping employers build skills while recruiting for genuine vacancies.

For example, you may be recruiting for:
✅ an Administrator or Business Support Assistant;
✅ a Customer Service Assistant;
✅ a Marketing Assistant;
✅ an IT Support Assistant or Technician;
✅ a Teaching Assistant.

If you’re not sure whether your vacancy is suitable, send us the details and we’ll have a look.

What Type of Apprentice Could You Recruit?

Build the skills your business needs

Need an Administrator?

Recruit someone who can develop skills across administration, communication, IT, organisation, projects and wider business support.

Need another Customer Service team member?

Develop someone who can build strong customer relationships and deliver excellent service for your organisation.

Need help with your marketing?

Grow your marketing capability by developing someone in areas including content, campaigns, customer engagement, research and digital marketing activity.

Growing your IT Support team?

Develop someone who can support colleagues and customers with the technology and digital systems your organisation relies upon.

Need an IT Technician?

Build technical capability in your business through an Information Communications Technician apprenticeship.

Looking for a Teaching Assistant?

Recruit and develop someone to support pupils, teachers and learning within your school or education setting.

How It Works

Recruiting an apprentice with HBTC is simple

1. Tell us who you need

You don’t need to understand apprenticeship standards or funding rules. Tell us about the person you’re looking for and the role you need them to do.

2. We’ll discuss the vacancy with you

We’ll make sure the role is suitable for an apprenticeship and identify the most appropriate training programme.

3. We find candidates

We’ll advertise the vacancy, attract applicants and help identify suitable candidates.

4. You choose who you employ

You remain completely in control of your recruitment decision. You interview the candidates and decide who is right for your business.

5. We arrange the apprenticeship

Once you’ve found the right person, HBTC will help arrange their apprenticeship and support both you and the apprentice throughout their training.And our apprentice recruitment service costs you £0.

Get In Touch

Thinking about recruiting?

Tell us what you’re looking for and a member of the HBTC team will get in touch to talk through your options.

Why HBTC?

Local apprenticeship recruitment with over 30 years’ experience

Photo of a young girl being supported by an assessor. Apprenticeships in Hull

HBTC has been helping businesses recruit, train and develop people since 1994.

From our centres in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, we work with employers across Hull, East Yorkshire and North & North East Lincolnshire.

When you recruit through HBTC, you get more than an apprenticeship training provider. We help employers understand apprenticeship employer incentives, funding opportunities and the wider benefits of apprenticeship recruitment.

You get a local team that can help with:
✅ recruitment
✅ apprenticeship funding
✅ choosing the right training programme
✅ onboarding
✅ training and development
✅ ongoing apprentice and employer support

Frequently Asked Questions

How much could my business receive?

Eligible non-levy paying employers recruiting a new apprentice aged 16–24 could receive a new government hiring payment of up to £2,000 for eligible apprenticeship starts from 1 October 2026.

An additional existing payment of £1,000 is available when recruiting a 16–18-year-old apprentice or certain eligible 19–24-year-olds.

That means some employers could receive up to £3,000 in total support.

Does every employer receive £3,000?

No.

The amount available depends on both the employer and apprentice meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.

That’s why we use the wording “up to £3,000”.

HBTC can help you understand what support may be available before you recruit.

Is apprenticeship training really £0?

For eligible new 16–24-year-old apprenticeship starts, government funding can cover 100% of the apprenticeship training and assessment costs up to the funding band maximum.

Different funding arrangements may apply depending on the employer and apprentice, so speak to HBTC and we’ll explain what applies to your business.

When does the new £2,000 support start?

The new hiring payment applies to eligible apprenticeships starting from 1 October 2026.

Importantly, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait until October to recruit.

The apprentice can have joined the employer within the permitted period before their apprenticeship starts, so businesses planning autumn recruitment should speak to HBTC now.

Do I have to find the apprentice myself?

No.

HBTC can advertise your vacancy, source candidates and support you throughout the recruitment process.

Our apprentice recruitment service is free of charge.

What apprenticeships does HBTC offer?

HBTC offers apprenticeship training across areas including:

If you’re unsure which apprenticeship matches your vacancy, we can help you choose the right programme for your apprentice.

What next?

Could your next employee be an apprentice?

apprenticeship employer incentives

If you’re planning to recruit, talk to HBTC and find out which apprenticeship employer incentives, funding for hiring apprentices and other support could be available to your business.

UP TO £3,000 GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

£0 ELIGIBLE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

£0 HBTC APPRENTICE RECRUITMENT

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