Spring Budget 2024: Thirteen ‘growth sector’ apprenticeships to get £3k extra funding from April

A select number of apprenticeship standards, considered by the government to be in UK growth sector industries, will receive a funding boost from the Treasury from April.  

In his Spring Budget Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed plans for the two-year £50 million Apprenticeship Growth Sector pilot previously announced in his Autumn statement in November. Under the government's proposals, eligible training providers delivering 13 high-value apprenticeship standards in advanced manufacturing, green and life sciences sectors will get an additional £3,000 per apprentice.  

These funding top-ups are for capital expenses such as equipment and machinery used by the apprentices. They are open to all providers, not just FE colleges.  

According to a report in FE Week, the extra money from the Treasury will be in addition to usual funding bands but training providers will need to deliver a minimum of 15 starts to access it. 

Using apprenticeship starts figures from 2022/23, FE Week calculated that the top-ups would cost at least £6.7 million per year from the growth fund pilot. This, it said, means that some apprenticeships, such as pipe welder, electrical power networks engineer, and machining technician could attract up to £30,000 per apprentice from April including the £3,000 growth pilot top-up.

The 13 Growth Pilot Apprenticeship standards are: 

• Construction Design and Build Technician level 4 
• Construction Support Technician level 3   
• Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner level 4 
• Electrical Power Networks Engineer level 4 
• Laboratory Technician level 3 
• Machining Technician level 3 
• Nuclear Technician level 5 
• Pipe Welder level 3 
• Plate Welder level 3 
• Process Leader level 4 
• Science Manufacturing Technician level 3 
• Surveying Technician level 3 
• Water Environment Worker level 3 

This initiative marks a significant step forward in growth and innovation within key sectors of the UK economy. By providing additional funding for apprenticeships in growth sector industries, the government is not only investing in the development of highly skilled individuals but also supporting the expansion of these vital sectors.