The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers of apprentices has been extended to 31 December 2021.
The €3,000 payment to employers who take on an apprentice has been extended to the end of 2021. The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers of apprentices was introduced by Government as part of the 2020 July Jobs Stimulus package. To date, over 1,500 employers have benefited from the Scheme, hiring over 3,000 apprentices.
The decision to extend the Scheme to the end of the year underlines the Government‘s commitment to the new action plan for an apprenticeship while acknowledging the real financial challenges faced by employers as Ireland navigates its way out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
SOLAS, as the statutory agency overseeing the apprenticeship system, continues its role in administering the Scheme. Details on how to access the Scheme are set out below.
What is the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme?
The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme provides financial support for apprenticeship employers who take on apprentices on all national apprenticeship programmes. There are 61 programmes as of June 2021 and the Scheme will apply to any new apprenticeship programmes which are launched in 2021. Apprenticeship employers are eligible for a €3,000 payment for each new apprentice who is registered before 31 December 2021. €2,000 per apprentice is payable at the point of registration. A further €1,000 is payable in 2022 for each eligible apprentice retained on their apprenticeship.
How does an employer apply for the €3,000 funding?
Step 1: Advertise the apprentice job. From 01 July 2021 registered employers taking on apprentices and who wish to avail of the Scheme must advertise the job vacancy via the free jobs portal on www.apprenticeship.ie. For apprenticeships where consortia directly support recruitment of apprentices, please contact your consortium who will advise.
Not yet an apprenticeship employer? You can submit an expression of interest and complete the process online via www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie/#/employer/register. The apprenticeship office in your local Education and Training Board can assist also, Find your local Education and Training Board
Step 2: Register your apprentice. Once an apprentice has been employed, you must register them as an apprentice with SOLAS. This is done via an apprenticeship advisor in your local ETB. For contact details of your local ETB click here Find your local Education and Training Board
Step 3: Apply for the incentive payment. Following successful registration of an apprentice, employers who are eligible for the incentive payment are invited by SOLAS to submit an online claim form which includes tax clearance details and the provision of bank details to process payments. Subject to approval, the claim will be processed promptly for payment.
Some terms and conditions of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme:
- From 01 July 2021, employers must advertise the apprentice job vacancy on www.apprenticeship.ie
- Apprentices must continue to be employed by the employer at the time of submission of a claim for the incentive payment
- Employers who have made an apprentice redundant between 01 March and 30 June 2021 are not eligible to make a claim under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme
- Employers cannot claim for both the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme and JobsPlus for their apprentices
- Apprenticeship employers will be subject to monitoring visits and contact in the usual way by the national network of SOLAS Authorised Officers.
The press release on the extension of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD is here.
Have a query?
Queries may be directed to apprenticeship advisors within Education and Training Boards, to consortia overseeing apprenticeship delivery or by email to .
