CIMSPA welcomes new incentive for apprenticeships

Today the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a package of financial support for the UK, including a new incentive for employers to hire apprentices over the next six months.

From August to January, any company hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive £2,000, while those that hire apprentices aged 25 and over will be paid £1,500.

CIMSPA welcomes this as a positive move that will provide a crucial incentive for businesses in the fitness and leisure sector to invest in young people, as we emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.

Colin Huffen, Head of Education at CIMSPA, said:

“This provides the sector’s employers with a fantastic opportunity to address potential skills shortages, especially through programmes such as the Leisure Team Member Apprenticeship. Apprentices going through this scheme will be trained as a lifeguard, swimming teacher and gym instructor, along with essential first aid training; making them a well-rounded and valuable team member.

The commercial value of this apprenticeship training is over £5,000, which is delivered at no cost to the employer and the additional Government incentive will provide employers with extra support to take on and develop young workers.

The £1,000 incentive for companies to bring workers back from the furlough scheme is also helpful, but what the sector urgently needs is a timetable for reopening, which we hope to get from the Government this week.”

To find out more about apprenticeships or how to access the opportunities for employers in the sector, please contact Colin Huffen: colin.huffen@cimspa.co.uk