The Scottish Government has increased support for modern apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships by offering a grant of £5,000 to employers who employ modern and graduate apprentices who have been made redundant.
The grant is available to the replacement employer to support the redundant apprentice to continue their apprenticeship and work towards their qualification. The conditions of the grant, including eligibility for the grant, are set out in these rules and the corresponding Adopt an Apprentice Funding Assistance Agreement.
Where a replacement employer is eligible and wishes to receive the grant, the replacement employer and its elected training provider will be required to enter an Adopt an Apprentice Funding Assistance Agreement.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) manages the Adopt an Apprentice Programme on behalf of the Scottish Government. SDS may amend these rules and the funding agreement at any time. When SDS makes any amendments, the amended version will be made available on the relevant pages of the SDS website.
The Adopt an Apprentice Programme is intended to be open for applications to be received by SDS by 5pm on 31 January 2021, however the Scottish Government reserve the right to withdraw, amend or extend the Adopt an Apprentice Programme, including amending the funding levels, at any time.
It should be used to support an Apprentice with employment for a minimum of 12 months or until the Apprentice successfully completes their designated apprenticeship, whichever period is shorter.
The financial incentive available is £5,000, and this can be used to support a Modern Apprentice or a Graduate Apprentice. This scheme is applicable to Apprentices who have been made redundant by the outgoing employer on or after 1 April 2019 and they must be employed by the replacement employer no earlier than 13 October 2020.
A training provider must apply on your behalf to Adopt an Apprentice. For Apprentice Electricians, you should contact SECTT on 0131 445 5659. To adopt an apprentice from any other discipline, such as administration etc, you can search for a training provider to do this on www.apprenticeships.scot or call the Adopt an Apprentice employer helpline on 0800 783 6000.
Employers should be aware that the financial incentive offered by the Adopt an Apprentice scheme is deemed to be State Aid. Businesses can only receive a maximum of £200,000 of such aid during a three-year period, and so employers should review their current financial position before applying.
For further details about the scheme, please see the Skills Development Scotland Adopt an Apprentice Programme information.
Find out more about becoming an Apprentice or Adult Trainee in our handy guide.