‘The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16-24 year olds’ is an incentive designed to help employers discover the benefits of having an Apprentice in their workplace. The incentive is run by the National Apprenticeship Service and it will be available to 40,000 employers until March 2013. This funding will be in addition to the funded training costs, which are fully funded for 16-18 and half funded for apprentices aged 19-24.

Jo-Anne Bryan, Lantra’s Apprenticeship Manager said: “This is a great opportunity for land-based and environmental businesses to experience the benefits of investing in an Apprentice.

“Lantra works with employers to design the Apprenticeship frameworks, so you can be certain that an Apprentice will develop the skills and knowledge that will best support your business.”

To be eligible, employers must not have employed an Apprentice in the previous three years and they must commit to supporting the Apprentice for the duration of his or her training programme.

Jo-Anne continued: “There are limited spaces with this initiative and businesses across England will be rushing to take advantage, so act soon if you want to watch your business grow by employing an Apprentice.”

For more information on this incentive, download the guidance at www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers/Steps-to-make-it-happen/Incentive.aspx or visit the National Apprenticeship Service at www.apprenticeships.org.uk. If you would like to speak to an adviser about the eligibility requirements, call 08000 150 600.

Find out more about the many benefits for employers taking on land-based and environmental Apprentices by visiting www.lantra.co.uk/love-apprentices.