A cap on apprentice numbers for small businesses that had caused employers to turn away new starts has finally been scrapped by the skills minister.
Robert Halfon confirmed in a letter to the sector on Thursday that small businesses which don’t pay the apprenticeship levy will no longer be limited to a maximum of 10 apprenticeship starts from April 3, 2023.
In the letter, the minister said businesses will be able to recruit “as many high-quality apprentices as their business needs”, and added: “We want to give smaller employers certainty over funding, and ensure they have access to the apprenticeships they need to meet their ambitions, fill their skills gaps, and grow their businesses.”
The cap has been a point of contention in the sector, with some employers saying they had been forced to turn away new apprentice starts because of it.
