---

Apprentices: Social Enterprises

Answer

We are committed to ensuring that apprenticeships are as accessible as possible to all people from all backgrounds. We are increasing numbers of traineeships to further support young people, including those from areas of disadvantage, into apprenticeships and further work. We are also encouraging a wide range of people from all backgrounds into apprenticeships through our ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign aimed at 14-24 year-olds, their parents, teachers and employers.

In the apprenticeship funding policy published in October, we announced extra payments for 16-18 year olds and 19-24 year olds formerly in care or with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Employers and providers will receive a payment of £1,000 to support additional costs associated with these apprentices. Additionally, the Government will make an additional payment to providers for training an apprentice who lives in an area amongst the 27% most deprived. The payments will be £600 for areas amongst the 1-10% most deprived, £300 for the next 11-20%, and £200 for the next 21-27%. These payments will be in place for one year while we review the system for supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We want all types of employers and providers to benefit from this funding including social enterprise providers who can help make it easier for businesses to employ people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In addition, the Government already pays £150 a month to providers where an apprentice with a learning difficulty or disability requires additional learning support. We are also trialling a two year project worth £2 million per year tailoring Access to Work support to apprentices with mental health problems in the workplace.

We are committed to ensuring apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities find apprenticeships as accessible as possible, which is why the Government accepted all of the recommendations made by Paul Maynard’s taskforce earlier this year – and why we’re working to implement them now.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL3767

Session

2016-17

Related items

Apprentices: Travellers
Monday, 9 January 2017
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Apprentices Social enterprises Social mobility

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk