Apprenticeship levy transfer funding
Find out whether you could get funding for an apprentice and how to apply.
Read all of the information on this page before you start your application. You can find a link to the application form at the top of the page.
Closing date for applications
The opportunity to apply for funding is open continuously, depending on funds remaining available. We will contact you within 15 working days of the form submission to inform you whether your application was successful.
Funding start date
Levy transfer funding must be for a new apprenticeship start.
We are unable to support apprentices who have already started their apprenticeship with you on receipt of the application.
If you're applying to support a redundant apprentice, send an email to apprenticeships@brighton-hove.gov.uk alongside completing the application.
About the transfer fund
We can support employers in the city to take on new apprentices and develop the skills of existing employees. We do this by transferring apprenticeship levy funds that we’re not using. Or, in the situation where a new employee starting with the organisation is part way through their apprenticeship training.
We are not able to transfer funds for apprenticeships that have already started in a business.
As a large levy paying employer, Brighton & Hove City Council can now transfer up to 25% of its apprenticeship levy funds to other employers in the city.
This will support our City Employment and Skills Plan and other strategic aims to help to boost the number of high-quality apprenticeships in the city.
This transfer of funds does not mean that we will manage or support the apprentice or apprenticeship.
We will only provide the transfer in accordance with the ESFA funding rules. So, please make sure you meet any eligibility criteria.
Transfers of funds are subject to state aid regulations. For any transfer you receive, a percentage of the transferred funds will count towards your de minimis state aid limit. Your training provider should be able to give you more advice about this.
Who can apply for funding
To apply for levy transfer funds, you must be a non-levy payer and one of the following:
- business or organisation in Brighton & Hove
- voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) in Brighton & Hove
- Brighton & Hove school that doesn't pay into the council's apprenticeship levy
- ATA or Flexi-Agency supporting apprentices employed in Brighton & Hove
You must show how your apprenticeship will contribute to at least one of these strategic priority aims:
- supporting an apprentice who has been made redundant though the COVID-19 pandemic
- support someone on the kickstart scheme to access an apprenticeship programme
- support your business’ recovery from COVID-19 - apprenticeship opportunities that will support your recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This might be to develop new skills for existing staff due to a change in practice or employing new staff to fill skills gaps
- a carbon neutral city by 2030 - apprenticeships that support the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030
- no-one left behind. These are apprenticeship vacancies that provide opportunities for residents of Brighton & Hove who are currently unemployed or economically inactive. We particularly welcome applications that provide vacancies/opportunities to encourage more people from underrepresented groups such as:
- care leavers
- NEETs
- those with disabilities
- long term unemployed
- BAME residents
- 50+ age group
- supporting learn to earn transitions. These are apprenticeships that provide career changes at any stage to earn and learn for a new apprentice or current apprentice or existing member of staff that clearly demonstrates progression
You must also:
- meet the requirements in the apprenticeship funding rules on GOV.UK
- be registered on the apprenticeship service before the apprenticeship starts
- accept the invite from Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) to connect our digital accounts
- add your apprentice/s using transfer funds to your digital account
- keep us informed when a learner ceases their apprenticeship training or takes a break
Choose your training provider
Before you apply, you'll need to choose a training provider and agree the cost of the apprenticeship training. This must include the End Point Assessment. Please note, we can only transfer funds within the funding band limit for the apprenticeship.
To contact the National Apprenticeship Service for advice, or help using the service, phone 0800 015 0600.
Apply for levy transfer funds
Please complete one application for each individual apprenticeship funding request. We may restrict the number of applications per organisation depending on funding availability.
You must only use the funds for training and assessment for:
- apprenticeship standards that are a new start. This means it will be a future start after the application has been received
- either new apprentices or existing employees doing apprenticeship standards
The training provider also needs to confirm they’ll accept the apprentice before we transfer the funds.
What happens after you apply
We'll review your application within 15 working days of receiving the application to to let you know the outcome of your application.
If there are not enough funds to cover all the applications that meet the selection criteria, we'll decide who's the best fit. We'll base this on the strategic priority aims and scoring criteria.
Where applications are scored equally and funds are limited, the lowest cost programmes will be prioritised.
If you have any questions, send an email to apprenticeships@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Case studies of organisations that have used the levy transfer scheme
Carden IT Services Ltd
Being able to train employees to company standards right from the start is a key advantage cited by Carden IT Services Ltd.
All the apprentices they have recruited on their Level 3 Infrastructure Technician programme over the last five years have stayed with the company.
Co-founder and Director, Dave King, said:
“Recruiting apprentices and then keeping them on as valued members of our team saves us money on recruitment. And they’re trained up for the way we like to work, which results on an increase in profits.
“We’ve found it really rewarding to watch them grow within the business and achieve their goals to become skilled in the world of IT.
“It’s great to chat with them at the end of their courses and reflect on where they have started and how well they have done.
“The levy transfer scheme has been a really good incentive, and we’re already looking to take on more apprentices.”
Seed
Search and social marketing agency, Seed (www.helloseed.co.uk), have hired more than five digital marketing apprentices, two supported through the BHCC levy transfer scheme.
CEO & Founder of Seed, Nick Stuart-Miller said, “The apprenticeship model has worked well for us because we were able to hire young people who are highly motivated to learn and develop their careers.”
“Also, because digital moves so quickly, we find that graduates at university level often haven’t kept up to date with industry changes.
“So, there is no better way to learn than by working within the industry.
“The positives of the apprenticeship programme far outweigh the challenges.
“It’s really rewarding to train someone and watch them develop from having very limited knowledge into a seriously valued member of your team.”
onHand
Tia did a digital marketing apprenticeship with volunteering app onHand.
“My degree in animation and previous experience were very niche. The apprenticeship has given me not just qualifications and work experience but also a clearer vision of my future career prospects.
“It was such a fab feeling to see results and achievements that I had contributed to in real time. I loved the analytical and creative elements, and the people I worked with were fantastic!
“I now have a multitude of transferable digital skills and, with more businesses going online, am in a position to consider lots of different career paths.
“I think it can be very rewarding for both parties. My employer invested a lot of time and energy in me, and I feel like I gave them a lot back too. It was challenging but brilliant!”
Other organisations that provide levy transfer
You can explore other opportunities to get support via the levy transfer scheme.
The following organisations are also supporting employers to access apprenticeship training through the levy transfer scheme:
Go to their websites for more details on criteria and application process.