Employers Access to Apprenticeship Training Funding
We are pleased to announce that London Borough of Waltham Forest Council can support organisations located within our Borough to access funding to support with the development of your team through approved apprenticeships.
We can support businesses located within our Borough with a Levy Transfer that will support with the training requirements for your apprentices – either existing employees or when recruiting new apprentices into your organisation.
Levy transfers allows your business to save money, as transferred funds are used to pay for the training and assessment costs of your apprentices. The transferring of our Levy Funds will aim to support apprenticeship standards that help reduce the skills shortages present in the Borough and reduce the predicted future skills gap.
We are transferring 25% of our apprenticeship levy to employers located within our Borough looking to recruit apprentices or upskill/develop their existing workforce through an approved apprenticeships standard.
The Levy transfer Funds cannot be used for:
- Wages
- Statutory licenses to practice.
- Travel and subsidiary costs
- Managerial costs
- Traineeships
- Work placement programmes
- The costs of setting up an apprenticeship programme
- Add On’s
- Memberships
- Resits/Retakes of End Point Assessments
Who can apply for a levy transfer
Any business located within the London Borough of Waltham Forest can apply for our levy transfer, but the following criteria applies when deciding.
- The business applying for the Levy Transfer is located within the London Borough of Waltham Forest
- If the businesses are located outside of the London Borough of Waltham Forest – the businesses are developing a Resident of the London Borough of Waltham Forest
- They are able to meet the requirements of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for transfer – as per the levy transfer checklist, have signed the ESFA Agreement, have completed the LBWF application form and agreed to our terms and conditions.
Other considerations
Levy transfer is not an unlimited resource, and the Council is mindful of this. Therefore, we aim to ensure the levy is utilised to make the greatest impact in the Borough in terms of, supporting our growth sectors, supporting the development of skills required in the Borough and supporting people into employment or continuing with their professional development. When you are making an application, please ensure that you are demonstrating why your apprenticeship will contribute to these areas.
New apprentices
Tackling unemployment within the Borough is a priority and we will prioritise employers looking to recruit new apprentices.
Employers engaged with our business support offer
When engaging with the council for a Levy Transfer, we aim to provide you with a holistic approach to support you with your apprenticeship requirements including guidance in the recruitment of new apprentices.
Our Opportunities Team are on hand to provide information, advice, and guidance throughout this process. This can include sourcing a training provider and assisting in assessing your skills gaps to identify the best options for your organisation. For further information on how our Opportunities Team can support you, contact Waltham Forest Jobs Apprenticeships
As an employer, what do I need to know
- You can only use the transferred funds for apprenticeship training and assessment.
- Transferred funds can only be used for apprenticeship standards.
- A transfer can fund up to the funding band maximum of a standard. If the cost of training is more, you will have to pay the difference to the training provider.
- You will need to create an account on the apprenticeship service to receive the transfer and pay for apprenticeship training. To register go to GOV.UK: How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer.
- You will need to sign a legally binding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). For more information view the GOV.UK information on ESFA Apprenticeship Agreement for Employers.
- If the apprenticeship stops then the funding will stop. You will not have to pay any funds back to London Borough of Waltham Forest. Any allocation of our levy put aside to pay for your apprenticeship will not be returned to London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is therefore imperative you understand and are ready to fulfil your commitments to take on an apprentice prior to applying for levy transfer.
- If London Borough of Waltham Forest runs out of levy money during your apprenticeship, you must make the relevant employer co-investment contribution. Refer to the 'Paying for an apprenticeship' section of the funding rules for information on the rate that needs to be paid. London Borough of Waltham Forest will however endeavour to forecast accurately to ensure it is able to fund your apprenticeship training for the duration of the apprenticeship.
- For more information on levy transfer, view the GOV.UK information on receiving a levy transfer from another business to fund an apprenticeship.
How to apply
If you wish to apply for our levy transfer, you must first contact the London Borough of Waltham Forest Apprenticeships Team to request a Levy Transfer Application form. apprenticeships@walthamforest.gov.uk
Once you have completed your application form, your levy transfer application must be emailed to apprenticeships@walthamforest.gov.uk for review.
All submitted application forms will be reviewed and feedback will be provided as to whether you are eligible for the transfer. If so, we will ask you to complete an apprenticeship Levy transfer agreement.
Support and guidance will be available throughout the application process.
For an informal chat about the apprenticeship levy transfer, please email apprenticeships@walthamforest.gov.uk