What is a levy transfer?

A levy-paying employer can give away up to 50% of their annual apprenticeship levy to another business. The receiving employer uses those funds to pay for apprenticeship training. Any employer can receive a transfer, whether or not they pay the levy themselves, and it must be agreed before the apprentice starts.

Why are levy transfers easier to get in London?

Several London borough councils run their own levy transfer schemes, actively offering their unused levy to employers in their area. That is a very different proposition from finding a private business willing to hand over funds, which is slow and uncertain. The schemes have published criteria and a route in, which is why London employers have a genuine advantage here.

Do I need a levy transfer if my apprentice is under 25?

No. Since August 2026 the government fully funds apprentices aged 16 to 24 for employers who do not pay the levy, and for levy payers who have run out of funds. There is no employer contribution to cover, so a transfer would save you nothing. Please do not delay a start waiting for one.

So when is a London transfer actually worth chasing?

Two situations. If you do not pay the levy and your apprentice is 25 or over, you would normally contribute 5% and a transfer can cover it. If you do pay the levy, have spent your own funds, and your apprentice is 25 or over, you would be co-investing 25% and a transfer can remove that. The second case is where the real money is.

Can a levy-paying employer receive a transfer?

Yes. Since February 2022 employers can send and receive transfers at the same time, and there is no rule requiring you to exhaust your own funds first. In practice we would normally use your own levy first, because it expires and a transfer does not replace it, but the option is open to you either way.

Which London boroughs do you cover?

All 32 London boroughs and the City of London. Not every borough runs a transfer scheme, and those that do change their criteria, budgets and application windows over time. We check what is actually open before advising you, rather than promising a figure up front.

Can you guarantee 100% funding?

No, and we would be wary of anyone who does. What is available depends on the borough, its remaining budget and its criteria at the time you apply. We have secured full funding for employers through these schemes, but we confirm your position first and tell you honestly what is realistic.

How long does a transfer take to arrange?

It varies by borough. A transfer has to be agreed and in place before the apprentice starts, so it is worth beginning the conversation early. If timing is tight we will say so, and where the numbers are small we will usually recommend starting the apprenticeship rather than holding it up.

London — all 32 boroughs

Levy transfers are genuinely easier to get in London

Across most of the country, a levy transfer means persuading a private business to hand over funds — slow, and often it never happens. London is different. Borough councils run their own transfer schemes and actively want to place those funds with local employers.

We have working routes into those schemes and have secured full funding for employers through them.

Check what's available to you Is it worth it for me?

25%

what a transfer can save a levy payer who has spent their pot, on each 25+ start

London boroughs covered, plus the City of London

£0

our advice costs you nothing, whatever the answer turns out to be

Straight answer first

Most employers don't need one

A transfer only helps if you would otherwise be paying something. Since August 2026 a great many employers pay nothing anyway — so before we talk about London schemes, here is whether it applies to you at all.

Saves you nothing

Your apprentice is 16–24

The government already funds these in full, for levy payers and non-levy employers alike. You contribute nothing, so there is nothing for a transfer to cover. Start the apprenticeship — don't wait on a scheme.

Saves you 5%

Non-levy, apprentice 25+

You would normally contribute 5% of the training cost. A borough transfer can cover it. Worth having — though on a single apprentice the sum is modest, so we would rarely hold up a start for it.

Saves you 25%

Levy pot spent, apprentice 25+

This is the one that matters. With your own funds gone you co-invest 25% on every new 25+ start — up from 5% in August 2026. Across a cohort that is serious money, and a transfer can remove it.

One thing people get wrong: you do not have to be a small business to receive a transfer. Levy payers can send and receive at the same time — there is no rule saying you must exhaust your own funds first. In practice we would use your own levy first, because it expires and a transfer will not replace it.

Why London is different

The boroughs want to place these funds

Elsewhere, a transfer depends on finding a private employer willing to give funds away. In London, councils run schemes with published criteria and an actual application route — and they are trying to spend the money locally.

A published route in

Borough schemes set out who qualifies and how to apply, rather than depending on a private introduction that may never come.

They want local employers

The point of these schemes is to grow skills in the borough. Being based there, or employing people who live there, works in your favour.

We handle the paperwork

We deal with the application and the Apprenticeship Service side, and make sure it is agreed before your apprentice starts — which is a hard requirement.

What we won't do

Promise you a figure before we have checked. Budgets, criteria and windows differ by borough and change through the year. We will tell you what is realistic.

Coverage

All 32 London boroughs

We work with employers right across London and the City. Not every borough runs a transfer scheme, and those that do change their terms over time — tell us where you are and we will check what is currently open.

Barking & Dagenham

Barnet

Bexley

Brent

Bromley

Camden

Croydon

Ealing

Enfield

Greenwich

Hackney

Hammersmith & Fulham

Haringey

Harrow

Havering

Hillingdon

Hounslow

Islington

Kensington & Chelsea

Kingston upon Thames

Lambeth

Lewisham

Merton

Newham

Redbridge

Richmond upon Thames

Southwark

Sutton

Tower Hamlets

Waltham Forest

Wandsworth

Westminster

…plus the City of London.

FAQs