How does apprenticeship levy funding work?

The apprenticeship levy is a UK government scheme that allows organisations to invest in training and development through apprenticeships.

Employers with an annual payroll of over £3 million pay the apprenticeship levy. These funds can then be used to pay for approved apprenticeship training programmes delivered by registered providers such as Makers.

Organisations that do not pay the levy may still be able to access government-funded apprenticeship training, usually through a co-investment model.

Using levy funding

Levy funding can be used to cover the training and assessment costs of an apprenticeship programme.

This includes:

• Structured learning delivered by the training provider

• Ongoing support and coaching during the programme

• End-Point Assessment at the end of the apprenticeship

Levy funding does not cover salaries, which remain the responsibility of the employer.

How employers access levy funding

Levy-paying organisations access their funds through the Apprenticeship Service, a government platform used to manage apprenticeship funding and training providers.

Employers can use these funds to:

• Train new hires through an apprenticeship

• Upskill existing employees into new technical roles

• Develop long-term capability within their teams

Working with Makers

Makers works with employers to design and deliver apprenticeship programmes aligned to real organisational needs.

This includes supporting organisations through programme setup, onboarding learners and delivering structured training alongside workplace experience.