Funding & Support for Apprenticeships

Support for Care Leavers: Care Leavers Bursary

Learners who have previously been in care may be eligible for a £3,000 Care Leaver Bursary.

Eligible for apprentices aged 18 to 24.

This payment is tax free. 

This funding is paid directly to the apprentice (not the employer) and is designed to support with:

• Living costs 
• Travel 
• Essential equipment or resources 
• General stability during the apprenticeship 

How it is accessed

Eligibility is confirmed at enrolment.

The apprentice must declare their care leaver status.

Payments are made in line with national guidance (typically in instalments).

This support helps individuals to sustain their learning and focus on their development, reducing financial barriers and improving long-term outcomes.

Access to Work

Access to Work is a government-funded scheme that provides practical and financial support for individuals with a disability, health condition or neurodivergence.

Support can include: 

• Specialist equipment or assistive technology 
• Support workers (e.g. job coaches, interpreters) 
• Adjustments to working environments 
• Travel support where public transport is a barrier

How it is accessed 

The apprentice applies directly via the Access to Work scheme.

Applications can be made online or by phone.

An assessment may be carried out to identify support needs. 

Funding is provided directly to the employer or supplier. 

We support learners and employers throughout this process to ensure appropriate adjustments are identified and implemented effectively. 

Additional Learning Support (ALS)

Additional Learning Support is available through apprenticeship funding to support learners with identified learning needs or barriers. 

This may include: 

• Additional one-to-one support 
• Adapted learning materials or delivery approaches 
• Extra time or alternative assessment methods 
• Ongoing pastoral and skills support 
• Assistive technology 

How it is accessed

Needs are identified at initial assessment and enrolment.

A support plan is created based on individual requirements.

Funding is claimed through the apprenticeship funding system.

This funding enables the apprenticeship provider to design programmes to be flexible and responsive, ensuring all learners can engage and succeed.  

Where support costs exceed the standard additional Learning Support funding earned, apprenticeship providers can claim additional costs as excess learning support.

Additional Learning Support and excess Learning Support can be claimed up to a total of £19,000 per learner per funding year.

Exceptional Learning Support (ELS) 

For learners with more complex or high-level support needs, Exceptional Learning Support (ElS) may be available. 

This provides additional funding where: 

• Standard funding does not fully meet the learner’s needs 
• Higher levels of support are required over an extended period 

How it is accessed 

• Assessment of need is carried out by our team 
• An application is submitted for approval 
• Support is tailored and monitored throughout the programme 

This funding ensures the apprenticeship provider can support learners with more significant needs so that individuals can still access and fully benefit from apprenticeship programmes.

Employer support, grants and incentives

Alongside learner support, employers can also benefit from: 
 
National Insurance Contributions 
Employers do not pay National Insurance Contributions for apprentices aged under 25 years, or for any employee aged 21 or below, if salary is below £50,270*.
 
*Rate referenced: 2025/26 rate 

 
Funding for Under 25s 
Non-levy employers do not pay training costs for apprentices aged under 25. 
For those aged 25+, the cost is 5%, or zero if using a levy transfer (levy funding is gifted from a Levy paying employer). 

 
£1,000: Young Apprentice Incentive
Employers can receive £1,000 for taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 years old, or aged 19 to 24 years old with an Education, Health and Care Plan, or who is a care leaver. 
Employer eligibility: All sizes of employer 
Availability: Available now 
 
£2,000: Non-Levy Jobs Grant 
From October 2026, employers that do not pay the apprenticeship levy could receive up to £2,000 for hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 24.  
Employer eligibility: Only for non-levy employers 
Availability: Available from October 2026 

 
£3,000: Youth Jobs Grant 
Businesses can receive £3,000 for hiring an individual aged 18 to 24 who has been receiving Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more. 
Employer eligibility: All sizes of employer 
Availability: Available now 
 

£2,000: Foundation Apprenticeship Incentive 
Employers offering Foundation Apprenticeships to young people aged 16 to 21, or eligible 22- to 24-year-olds, can receive up to £2,000.   
Payments support progression to a further apprenticeship. 
Employer eligibility: All sizes of employer 
Availability: Available now

Employers may be able to access multiple incentives for the same young person where eligibility criteria are met.

We work in partnership with employers to ensure they can: 

• Build inclusive recruitment pathways 
• Support learners effectively in the workplace 
• Access the right funding routes with confidence 

Our approach to support

At Dynamic Training, we take a proactive and personalised approach to support:

• We identify needs early and work collaboratively 
• We adapt delivery to ensure inclusive, accessible learning 
• We support both learners and employers throughout the journey 
• We focus on removing barriers and enabling success 

Our aim is simple, to ensure that every learner has the right support, at the right time, to achieve their potential.

Find out more 

If you would like to explore funding options or support available: 

Get in touch
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