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Apprenticeship Funding Checker: what GOV.UK says you can claim to hire an apprentice
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, GOV.UK says the government pays 100% of training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24. Separate cash payments may apply too. Enter a hiring scenario to see which GOV.UK payments fit it, then get a free, ready-to-post job advert. Figures read from GOV.UK on 10 October 2026. For independent restaurant and bar owners.
No guarantee of funding success — booteek makes the claim easier; the decision rests with the training provider, DfE or DWP.
What GOV.UK says for this scenario (read 10 October 2026)
Training: if you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, GOV.UK says the government pays 100% of training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24. Check the rules for your start date. GOV.UK
Employer National Insurance:employers pay no Class 1 National Insurance on an eligible under-25 apprentice’s pay up to £50,270 a year (2026 to 2027). Conditions apply. GOV.UK
- No guarantee of funding — booteek maximises the ease and completeness of your claim; the decision rests with the training provider, DfE or DWP.
- Each payment is listed on its own. GOV.UK does not say here whether they can be combined, so check the rules for each one.
- GOV.UK lists further routes for some payments (for example an apprentice with an education, health and care plan, or who has been in care). Read the GOV.UK page for your apprentice.
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- cooking interestCooked for your family or younger siblings when your parents were out? That's real kitchen interest — no chef's whites needed.
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- problem-solvingWhen something burns or runs out mid-cook, do you sort it? That's initiative under pressure.
- teamworkDo you muck in when everyone's slammed — without being asked?
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Apprenticeship funding for employers — your questions
How much does it cost to hire an apprentice in 2026?
GOV.UK gives no single total. It lists separate rules and payments, and this page adds none together. If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, GOV.UK says the government pays 100% of training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24. Check the rules for your start date. Employers pay no Class 1 National Insurance on an eligible under-25 apprentice's pay up to £50,270 a year (2026 to 2027). Conditions apply. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Source: GOV.UK: Get funding for apprenticeship training · GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
Do employers get paid for taking on an apprentice?
In some cases, yes. GOV.UK lists a hiring payment of up to £2,000 (employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy, apprentice aged 16 to 24), £1,000 to support an apprentice in the workplace (apprentice aged 16 to 18 at the start of training), and an employer incentive of up to £2,000 for a foundation apprenticeship (aged 16 to 21). The DWP Youth Jobs Grant is a separate scheme: up to £3,000 per job. Each has its own rules. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Source: GOV.UK: Get funding for apprenticeship training · GOV.UK: Youth Jobs Grant
Is apprenticeship training paid for if I do not pay the apprenticeship levy?
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, GOV.UK says the government pays 100% of training and assessment costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24. Check the rules for your start date. GOV.UK also says that for all other apprentices you pay 5%. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Do employers pay National Insurance for apprentices under 25?
Employers pay no Class 1 National Insurance on an eligible under-25 apprentice's pay up to £50,270 a year (2026 to 2027). Conditions apply. Above that figure GOV.UK shows the 15% employer rate. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Source: GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
What is the apprenticeship hiring payment and who can claim it?
GOV.UK says: if you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, you may be eligible for a hiring payment of up to £2,000 when recruiting new apprentices. The apprentice must be aged 16 to 24 at the start of training. It is not available if the apprentice has worked for you for more than 90 days before training starts. It is paid in 2 instalments of £1,000, by the training provider. (Read 10 October 2026.)
What is the £1,000 payment to support an apprentice in the workplace?
GOV.UK says you can get £1,000 to support your apprentice in the workplace if, at the start of their training, they are 16 to 18. GOV.UK also lists apprentices aged 19 to 24 with an education, health and care plan, or who have been in care. It is paid in 2 instalments of £500, 90 days and one year after the apprenticeship started. (Read 10 October 2026.)
What is the Youth Jobs Grant for employers?
GOV.UK says employers may receive up to £3,000 per job, paid in stages, for a job for someone aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more. The job must be at least 25 hours a week and last at least 4 months. Applications opened on 30 June 2026, and organisations of any size can apply. Funding is subject to availability and scheme conditions. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Source: GOV.UK: Youth Jobs Grant
What is a foundation apprenticeship and how much is the incentive?
GOV.UK says you may be able to get an employer incentive of up to £2,000 to support an apprentice doing a foundation apprenticeship, if they are aged 16 to 21. GOV.UK lists "catering and hospitality" as a foundation apprenticeship area. It is paid in 3 instalments. (Read 10 October 2026.)
Can a restaurant or bar take on an apprentice with funding?
Yes, a restaurant or bar can hire an apprentice. The GOV.UK rules above are not specific to one trade, and GOV.UK lists "catering and hospitality" as a foundation apprenticeship area. Whether a given payment applies depends on the apprentice's age and on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy. (Read 10 October 2026.)
How do I write an apprenticeship job advert that attracts young people?
Lead with potential, not a CV: describe the everyday signals that show someone would be great — reliability, warmth, keeping things clean — and say no experience is needed. booteek’s free checker writes one for you.