Find out more about funding support available to employers.
Employer Funding

Experts in finding available funding options
The team at Northern Skills are on hand to discuss any available funding options for your business and support you with eligibility criteria along with how to apply. Funding may be available to support the cost of your apprentice’s training and their salary.
For more information about apprenticeship government funding, please click here.
Please note – grants are subject to change with up to date Government rules. More guidance can be found here.
Tees Valley Business Compass Growth Fund
Access up to 33% funding for business growth projects.
Tees Valley Business Compass can provide you with tailored funding and support to help your business grow.
- You can access funding for:
- Developing marketing strategies
- Getting your business online
- Workforce training plans
- Product and service development
- Business process review
- Plus many more!
Additional Funding
- Tees Valley Combined Authority Age Grant
- Hambleton District Council Grants
- Richmond District Council Grants
- Stockton Borough Council – contact Roland Todd for Youth Employment Grant on 01642 526184 for further information
- Durham Works
- Government Incentive payment £1,000 available for 16-18 year olds (paid in 2 installments, at 20 weeks and the end of training)
- Routes to Employment Grant for Redcar and surrounding areas
The Apprenticeship Levy
Apprenticeship standards designed by employers have replaced frameworks. Non-levy paying employers (about 98%) contribute 5% of training costs, with the Government covering 95%. There are 15 funding bands, with employer contributions ranging from £150 to £2,700.
Employers with fewer than 50 employees can train 16-18 year old apprentices at no cost, as the Government covers 100% of training costs. Employers can help develop new apprenticeship standards.
The Apprenticeship Levy is paid into an employer’s digital account annually. Employers with a payroll over £3 million pay 0.5% of their wage bill towards the levy and receive £15,000 in digital vouchers for training.
