Apprenticeship scheme receives a £200,000 boost to help find work for more young people in Wigan
The funding takes the total investment in Wigan Council's Future Apprentices for Business programme to £700,000 since it was launched in February 2023, supporting around 330 grants and 150 placements.
Businesses across Wigan are being given support to recruit young people, as a council-backed apprenticeship scheme receives an additional £200,000 to help employers build their future workforce.
The funding takes the total investment in Wigan Council’s Future Apprentices for Business (FAB) programme to £700,000 since it was launched in February 2023.
The scheme is designed to help businesses create new apprenticeship opportunities while giving young residents a route into employment and recognised training.
The additional funding comes as employers continue to face higher costs associated with recruitment and employment.
Wigan Council says rising national minimum wage rates, increased employer national insurance contributions and wider inflationary pressures have made it more difficult for some businesses to take on new staff.
The FAB programme provides grants to eligible businesses employing fewer than 250 people.
Employers recruiting a young person from the general population can receive a basic grant of £3,000, while those recruiting from the programme's priority talent pool can qualify for £5,000.
The priority talent pool includes care leavers, looked after children, young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and those who are not currently in education, employment or training.
Since the programme began, around 330 grants and 150 placements have been supported, with the latest funding intended to extend the opportunities available.
The council has also developed initiatives designed to connect businesses with candidates who may otherwise face barriers to entering the labour market.
Its PULSE programme, for example, works to match young people leaving care with local employers, while the Build Our Borough programme provides young people with placements in the construction sector.
Businesses can use apprenticeships to develop employees around their own requirements, helping to build technical knowledge and workplace experience from the beginning of a career.
Borough-based employers have already reported benefits from the programme.
Leigh-based e-car lease, which recently recruited a level three data technician apprentice through the FAB talent pool, said the grant helped offset rising costs while the apprentice provided additional capacity for the business and developed new skills.
The programme requires participating businesses to pay apprentices at least the national minimum wage for their age rather than the lower apprenticeship minimum.
The council says this can make vacancies more attractive to applicants and potentially allow employers to recruit a wider range of candidates.