JTL, a training charity for the building services engineering sector, is urging firms to take action now if they are to benefit from a new employer initiative from the National Apprenticeship Service.
At a time when a lack of bank finance is discouraging contractors from making commercial investments, particularly in apprentices, Denis Hird, JTL chief executive believes the AGE grant could be a 'lifeline'.
Worth £1,500, the AGE grant aims to support employers by helping to offset the cost of taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 24. While JTL welcomes this as a positive move by Government, Mr Hird raised concerns that the administration of the grant may put firms off applying.
He said: 'The AGE grant targets firms that haven't ever taken an apprentice on before or maybe haven't done so in the last three years for whatever reason. My concern is that this is the 'group' that are disinclined because of the reams of paperwork that they believe they will have to complete in the application. I say, 'Don't let a form stop you - you won't regret it!''
To facilitate business access to the AGE grant, JTL is offering firms assistance in filling out the applications, as well as providing advice on the commercial benefits of taking on an apprentice.
Mr Hird added: 'The AGE grant and initiatives such as these are a great step forward but they are just the start of what needs to be done to support businesses. Government needs to look at long-term solutions that help the private sector stand on its own two feet.
'We recently conducted a survey which found that 60 per cent of employers in our sector believe they are being held back by a lack of banking support. That's why JTL is asking Government to take action to increase lending to SMEs. Increased banking support gives firms the ability to win more work, and thus take on more apprentices. Putting pressure on banks to lend to responsible employers will lead to more work and will help reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training.'
The AGE grant is available until March 2013 and specifically targets SMEs who have never taken on an apprentice, or who have not had an apprentice in the last three years.
Worth £1,500 each, there are 40,000 AGE grants available nationwide, across all sectors, with all training providers, and in all colleges.
http://www.jtltraining.com/
