Hair apprentices working with a client in salon

There has never been a better time for Shropshire businesses to bring an apprentice into their workforce.

With additional support on offer from the Government, the Business Solutions Team at Shrewsbury Colleges Group (SCG) are on hand to take local businesses to the next level with apprenticeships.

The UK Government introduced a funding incentive for employers recruiting new apprentices. The new budget has been extended to September 2021 and doubled the funding amount on offer.

Employers in England who hire a new apprentice between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021 will receive £3,000 per new hire, previously £1,500 per new apprentice hire (or £2,000 for those aged 24 and under) under the previous scheme. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the government provides for all new 16-18 year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an EHCP, meaning that some employers could receive £4,000 in total.

“I’m really pleased that the chancellor has recognised how important apprentices are to the future of the industry,” said Corinne Brown, Business Solutions Manager at SCG. “Not only has he extended the timeline, but he has also increased the amount, so this is very much welcomed."

"We find employers can be a bit daunted by the initial investment an apprentice might need, so these grants go a long way in helping to provide any additional equipment or tools they might need, as well as compensating for the extra time it can take before an apprentice is able to make a full contribution to the business. For any employers thinking about taking advantage of these grants, I would urge them to get in touch now. We have many students at the college keen to transfer over to an apprenticeship, so they don’t necessarily have to wait until September”.

The wide selection of apprenticeships on offer in conjunction with SCG means that an apprentice can cover lots of different job roles within any business. Training for the job is a blend of in college education at SCG and on-the-job training within the organisation and the training approach can be adapted to suit the business’s current needs.

The Business Solutions team at SCG can be contacted on 07792 039731 or emailed at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details of hiring an apprentice.

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