Apprenticeship support extended to large employers

The changes mean larger employers are again eligible to claim the support for apprentices

Larger employers offering apprenticeships will again be eligible for financial support in a bid to boost the number of opportunities available.

The move by the Isle of Man government means that employers with more than 10 full-time equivalent staff would also be able to claim up to £60 a week during the period of training.

The payments contribute to in-work learning and are conditional on the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (Desc) being satisfied with the progress of the apprentice.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said the change came as "larger employers had pulled back from offering apprenticeships" since eligibility for the payments was capped in April last year.

'Backdated'

However, he said there had been an overall increase in the number of employers offering apprenticeships.

The schemes, which enable people to earn while learning, typically see apprentices gain skills and technical knowledge as they are trained by colleagues in the workplace.

Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine said the financial support would be backdated to April 2025.

She said her department "continues to fund the full cost of training and assessment for the duration of an approved apprenticeship" to all employers, typically for two to three years.

"Apprenticeships are a vital way to build a skilled workforce and support local business," she added.