About the Apprenticeship Levy

Every business in England with an annual salary bill of £3million or more pays into the apprenticeship levy. The current rate is 0.5% of their total pay bill.

Every employer in England can access the apprenticeship levy, whether they pay into it or not.

Employers who do not pay into the levy can still access the funds. They will be asked to make a small contribution to the cost of the training. The employer pays 5% directly to their chosen training provider, and the government will pay 95%.

The apprentice must be an employee with a contract of service with the employer (or connected company, charity) which is long enough to complete the apprenticeship successfully (including the end-point assessment), this does not include individuals who are self-employed.

• Apprentices must be an employee on the first day of their apprenticeship and as a minimum at least be paid a wage consistent with the law for the time they are in work, in off-the-job training and when studying English and maths
• Have the right to work in England
• Spend at least 50% of their working hours in England.

See Employer funding rules for further information

Employers who pay into the levy will be provided with a Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account. In this account you will be able to view your balance, review your spend and plan your apprenticeship training for your employees.

20% off the job training is a legal requirement of all apprenticeships.

This is training that supports the apprentice in achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined in the relevant apprenticeship standard. It must take place during the employees contracted, paid working hours (not overtime).

At Hult Ashridge we use a platform called Pebble Pad, that both the apprentice and their line manager can access. The 20% off-the-job training can be recorded here, alongside feedback from the line manager and notes from meetings or projects relevant to the apprenticeship.

As apprentices are in full-time employment, most of their training takes place in the workplace. The 80% on the job covers the job specific tasks that the apprentice would complete during their regular working hours

Yes. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Funding Rules require all applicants who wish to undertake a Level 3 or above apprenticeship to hold or to achieve an approved Level 2 in English and Maths before they can successfully complete an apprenticeship. This is a statutory requirement. You can download our Q&A for more detail on this requirement.