Apprenticeship scheme under threat as grant aid cut by 10%

GRANTS for employers who take on apprentices will be slashed by 10% this year, Education has today announced.

The department is cutting grant aid available through its apprenticeship scheme from September, in a bid to save an estimated £52,000 as part of the States-wide Financial Transformation Programme.

The department board made the decision following an independent review by Dr Elaine Monkhouse into the highly regarded States scheme, which is run in conjunction with employers and the College of Further Education.

Education is also looking at whether certain apprenticeships could be reduced from five to four years.

Board member Deputy Richard Conder who is the apprenticeship and youth employment committee chairman, said he was confident the grant reduction would not have a detrimental impact on the number of apprentices.