The Links Training & Consultancy
The Links Training & Consultancy
The Links Training
The Links Training & Consultancy
& Consultancy
Apprenticeship Funding

How does apprenticeship funding work for your business?

Whether you're a large levy-paying employer or a smaller business, there's significant government funding available for apprenticeship training — and Emma can help you access every penny of it.

Use our quick funding checker below to find out exactly where you stand.

Check my funding Speak to Emma
95%
government funded for non-levy employers
100%
funded via levy transfer in many cases
50%
of levy can be gifted to other businesses
Apprenticeship Funding

How does apprenticeship funding work for your business?

Significant government funding is available for every employer. Use our quick checker to find out where you stand.

Check my funding Speak to Emma
£3m
payroll threshold
0.5%
levy rate on payroll
L2–7
apprenticeship levels
Free
Emma's consultancy
2 minute quiz

Find out your funding position

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll tell you exactly what funding is available for your business.

1

What is your annual payroll?

This determines whether you're a levy or non-levy employer.

2

Are you currently using your levy account?

Unused funds expire after 24 months.

3

How many staff are you looking to train?

This helps us understand the scale of the opportunity.

You're a Levy Employer — great news!

You're already paying into the Apprenticeship Levy and your funds are ready to use. Every pound in your levy account can fund apprenticeship training — and unused funds expire, so now is the time to act.

Your funding position
100% of training costs covered by your levy pot
Levels 2–7 apprenticeships available
Transfer up to 50% of unused funds to other businesses
Emma will maximise your levy usage — free consultancy

You're losing money — let's fix that

You're paying into the Apprenticeship Levy but not using it. Those funds expire after 24 months — meaning money you've already paid is disappearing. Emma can help you put it to work immediately.

Your funding position
Unused levy funds are expiring every month
100% of training costs can be covered by your levy
Transfer unused funds to supply chain or other businesses
Emma will audit your position and create an action plan

Great news — the government pays most of it

As a non-levy employer, 95% of your apprenticeship training costs are covered by the government. In many cases — through levy transfers — you could access 100% funding. Your contribution could be as little as 5%.

Your funding position
95% of training costs funded by the government
Only 5% employer contribution required in most cases
Levy transfers available — potentially 100% funded
Additional incentives for younger apprentices may apply

Let Emma work it out for you

No problem — understanding your funding position can be complex. Emma will review your payroll position and identify exactly which funding routes are available to you. It takes a 15-minute call and it's completely free.

What Emma will do
Review your payroll to confirm levy or non-levy status
Identify all available funding routes
Recommend the best apprenticeship programmes for your team
Handle everything from start to finish — completely free
The difference explained

Levy vs Non-Levy employers

The way apprenticeship funding works differs depending on your payroll. Here's what you need to know.

Payroll over £3m

Levy Employer

You pay 0.5% of your payroll into the Apprenticeship Levy. This money sits in a digital account (the Apprenticeship Service) and can only be used for apprenticeship training. Use it or lose it — funds expire after 24 months.

100% of training costs from your levy pot
Levels 2–7 apprenticeships available
Transfer up to 50% to other businesses
Train existing staff as well as new recruits
Funds expire after 24 months if unused
Emma's tip

If you're not using your levy, you're effectively writing a cheque to the government every month. Emma will build a training plan that uses every penny.

Payroll under £3m

Non-Levy Employer

You don't pay the levy, but you still get access to heavily government-subsidised apprenticeship training. The government covers 95% of training costs — and through levy transfers from larger businesses, you may be able to access 100% funding.

95% of training costs funded by government
Only 5% employer contribution
Receive levy transfers — potentially 100% funded
Additional incentives for younger apprentices
No levy payments — no upfront cost to access training
Emma's tip

Many small businesses don't realise levy transfers exist. Emma has access to a network of levy-paying employers who can fund your training — making it completely free.

Levy gifting

How levy transfers work

Larger employers can transfer up to 50% of their unused levy funds to smaller businesses — often resulting in 100% free apprenticeship training for the recipient.

Step 1

Levy Employer

A larger business has unused levy funds about to expire. They agree to transfer up to 50% to a smaller business in their supply chain or network.

Step 2

The Transfer

Emma facilitates the transfer through the Apprenticeship Service. The receiving employer can use those funds immediately to cover 100% of their apprenticeship training costs.

Step 3

Non-Levy Employer

The smaller business gets their apprenticeship training funded at 100% — paying nothing. Their staff are trained, qualified, and progressing. Everybody wins.

Emma has access to a network of levy-paying employers who are looking to transfer unused funds. If you're a non-levy employer, you could access 100% funded apprenticeships through this route — at no cost to you.


Ask Emma about levy transfers
At a glance

Quick comparison

Levy
Payroll over £3m
Non-Levy
Payroll under £3m
Payroll threshold
Over £3 million
Under £3 million
Pays apprenticeship levy
Yes — 0.5% of payroll
No
Government funding
100% from levy pot
95% government funded
Employer contribution
£0 (uses own levy)
5% of training cost
Via levy transfer
Can transfer up to 50%
Can receive — 100% funded
Levels available
Levels 2–7
Levels 2–7
Fund expiry
Yes — 24 months
N/A
Incentives available
Yes
Yes — especially 16–21
FAQs

Common questions

A levy employer is a UK business with an annual payroll over £3 million. They pay 0.5% of their payroll into the Apprenticeship Levy, which sits in a digital account to fund apprenticeship training. Funds expire after 24 months if unused.

A non-levy employer has a payroll under £3 million and does not pay the levy. They still access government-funded apprenticeships, typically with 95% funded by the government and just a 5% employer contribution.

Levy gifting (also called levy transfer) allows levy-paying employers to transfer up to 50% of their unused levy funds to other businesses. The receiving business can use those funds to cover 100% of their apprenticeship training costs.

Yes — through levy transfers from larger employers, non-levy employers can access 100% funding with no employer contribution. Emma has a network of levy-paying businesses who regularly transfer funds.

Levy funds expire after 24 months. This means your business has effectively paid a training tax and received nothing in return. Emma will help you build a training plan that uses your levy before it expires.

Ready to make the most of your funding?

Whether you're a levy employer looking to maximise your pot, or a smaller business wanting to access 95%+ funded training — Emma will find the best route for you. Free. No obligation.

Call 07884 082609 Send a message