Check apprenticeship details when applying for the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice

To ensure your application for the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice is eligible, you need to check the information you and your training provider have provided.

You must update your information if it is incorrect, and cancel your application if it is not eligible.

If your information is incorrect and is not updated, this will delay any outstanding incentive payments and may affect previous payments made.

PAYE scheme:

Sign in to your apprenticeship service account and check that you have correctly added all the PAYE schemes that you use to pay your apprentices, in line with the service terms and conditions.

National Insurance Number:

Check your training provider has the correct National Insurance Number for each of your apprentices, and that they have included this in their ILR submissions.

Your training provider will need to update this information if it is incorrect.

Evidence:

You need to keep the following documentation for each apprentice as you may be asked to provide evidence to confirm your claim is valid: 

• a full signed copy of the employment contract 
• a full signed copy of the aaprenticeship agreement and commitment statement (if you are unsure of what these are, please discuss with your training provider)
• payroll evidence, for example, a copy of a payslip 

If you are applying for someone you previously hired as part of the Kickstart Scheme, we may email you and ask for additional evidence once your application has been processed.

This evidence could include:

• the Kickstart Scheme grant agreement
• proof of the start date of employment through Kickstart Scheme (this could be a copy of employment contract or a letter of appointment)
• the first and last payslip issued under the Kickstart Scheme to the kickstarter
• evidence of the receipt of Kickstart Scheme grant payment

If required, we may ask you for evidence in addition to the list above to help determine eligibility.

Eligibility:

Ensure that you have only applied for eligible apprentices.

For apprentices with an employment start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022:

• applications are closed
• the apprentice must be a new employee, with a contract of employment with a start date between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022 (inclusive) 
• the apprentice must not have a contract of employment with you (or a connected company or charity) in the 6 months prior to 1 October 2021, unless you can evidence that prior employment was under the Kickstart scheme, as detailed in the funding rules
• the apprentice must have an apprenticeship start date between 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 (inclusive) 

For apprentices with an employment start date from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021:

• applications are closed
• the apprentice must be a new employee, with a contract of employment with a start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 (inclusive) 
• the apprentice must not have a contract of employment with you (or a connected company or charity) in the 6 months prior to 1 April 2021, unless you can evidence that prior employment was under the Kickstart scheme, as detailed in the funding rules

the apprentice must have an apprenticeship start date between 1 April 2021 and 30 November 2021 (inclusive) 

For apprentices with an employment start date from 1 August 2020 to 31 March 2021:

• applications are closed
• the apprentice must be a new employee, with a contract of employment with a start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 March 2021 (inclusive) 
• the apprentice must not have a contract of employment with you (or a connected company or charity) in the 6 months prior to 1 August 2020
• the apprentice must have an apprenticeship start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 May 2021 (inclusive) 

Last updated on 12 January 2023 10:50