Telling employees about the apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary
EmployerEmployees on an apprenticeship who have been in local authority care may be eligible for a £3,000 bursary.
You can make sure your employees know about the bursary and how to claim it.
Eligibility depends on the employee:
- starting their apprenticeship before age 25
- having been in care for at least 13 weeks, some of which must have been since their 16th birthday.
More about the bursary and how it is claimed
To make sure eligible apprentices receive their bursary, you can:
- tell all your apprentices who were under the age of 25 at the start of their apprenticeship about the bursary, ensuring they understand that:
- it is tax-free
- it is not treated as income in benefits claims
- their employer does not need to know they are claiming the bursary (unless they are an employer-provider)
- they should ask their training provider to claim for them
- they can claim if they are still an apprentice
- their training provider will receive bursary payments from the government and pass them on
- they will need to get written confirmation of their care leaver status from their local authority and pass it to their training provider (there is no specific format required for the confirmation - an email is acceptable)
Funding for employers
Employers receive £1,000 to support all apprentices aged under 19.
This funding is also paid for apprentices who are care leavers, up to the age of 25, if the apprentice is content for their employer to know.
It is transferred to employers by the training provider in two instalments.
Foundation apprenticeships and Level 7 apprenticeships
Funding for foundation and Level 7 apprenticeships is extended from age 22 to age 25, for:
- Care leavers
- People with an education, health and care plan
- Prisoners / ex-prisoners
Employer guide: Top Tips: Recruiting and supporting care experienced apprentices - Amazing Apprenticeships
Apprentice guide: Care Leavers Guide - Amazing Apprenticeships
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