Member Article

Increased funding announced for York businesses

Small and Medium Sized businesses across York are being invited to apply for a grant to help them hire an apprentice and grow their business.

Following an announcement from the Leeds City Region, businesses in York can now benefit from a local grant of up to £2,000 thanks to the LEP’s Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE).

The aim of the grant is to support businesses and help them recruit young people, aged 16-24, into employment and help them start their career.

The new LEP Apprenticeship Grant replaces the national apprenticeship grant incentive for businesses in West Yorkshire and York as agreed in the first stage devolution agreement with government in March 2015. Funding for businesses will be available until 31 December.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City of York Council said: “This funding represents a great opportunity for small businesses in York to create more apprenticeships in the city. Recently York was named in the top five per cent of English local authorities for apprenticeship take-up and hopefully this funding and the support of the council-led York Apprenticeship Hub service for businesses will see this trend continue.”

The grant is in addition to City of York Council’s apprenticeship brokerage service, which has already supported over 100 businesses across the city by helping shape the job description and find the right training provider through to hiring the apprentice. For more information businesses can contact the York Apprenticeship Hub on 07943 593449 or email york.apprenticeships@york.gov.uk.

The news comes ahead of the fourth York Apprenticeship Recruitment Event, which takes place on Tuesday 18 August from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. There’s still time for businesses in the city to register for a free place at the popular event. For more information businesses are urged to contact the York Apprenticeship Hub.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .