The Department for the Economy (DfE) has developed an Apprenticeship Recovery Package for Northern Ireland that will channel financial support to local businesses to help the apprenticeship system respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Apprenticeship Recovery Package includes short term interventions which are targeted to reduce significant longer-term economic impacts.
These interventions will reduce unemployment and ensure that employers continue to have access to people with the skills and qualifications needed to maintain productivity, to grow their businesses and to assist in closing the skills gap, ensuring that more people have a pathway to better paying jobs.
There are three elements to the package: Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme.
As an employer, you may have had to furlough an apprentice under the terms of the UK Government Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. DfE will provide incentive payments to help you return your apprentice(s) from furlough, retain them and for successful completion of their apprenticeship.
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The total amount payable under the scheme will be a maximum of £3,700 per apprentice with distribution as follows:
Return - £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship between 1 November 2020 and 31 March 2022.
Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 consecutive months of paid apprenticeship following the 'return' month between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2022.
Result - £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice
This scheme is open to employers participating on the DfE-funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, who return their furloughed apprentices furloughed via the UK Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to work.
Find out more about the Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme, full eligibility terms and how to apply - https://lisburncity.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=19b2fad72b2f17ba78c2f3cb2&id=2c4850d698&e=8a9d0aedb8
Source: Invest Northern Ireland
