Investing in staff training programmes and apprenticeships is the perfect way to grow your business and develop an efficient and skilled workforce.
To download the guide, click on the arrow in the top left corner.
Our apprenticeship programmes are available across the county with start dates all year round.
Taking on an apprentice is a brilliant way of investing in the future of your business. You can recruit and train fresh talent that will grow with your company. As your delivery partner we will put together a programme that is appropriate and applicable to your business and support you and your apprentice throughout the whole process. All documents will be sent out by email using Docu-Sign
If you need help in recruiting, we can assist with that too. We seek out motivated and enthusiastic individuals who are bursting with potential.
The great news is that apprenticeship programmes are also available to your existing workforce. They can support individuals who are moving into a new role, have recently gained line management responsibilities or simply need to develop their current skills sets.
Our Apprenticeships last between 15 and 33 months depending on the subject area and level. New apprentices who work 30hrs or more will have to achieve a minimum of 6hrs per week off-job learning
Employers will receive a £1,000 incentive payment if they hire a new apprentice who is:
You need to create an apprenticeship account, then you’ll be able to get funding to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
You’ll use your account to:
Please follow this link to create an account
Click on the links below to find out more about our apprenticeship offer and then complete the enquiry form below. You can also download our Employer Guide HERE
The government have set maximum prices for each apprenticeship. The price you pay will depend on the occupational area, the level and any prior qualifications, knowledge, skills and behaviours that the apprentice already has – we use an initial assessment and skills scan to identify these.
The cost of an apprenticeship depends on the programme and it’s level. Larger employers will use their Apprenticeship Levy to fund the programme. Employers not paying into the levy will be required to pay 5% of the overall cost unless their business has less than 50 employees and the apprentice is 16-18 yrs old or 19-24 with with an education, health and care plan. Our Business Development team will discuss prices with you and agree a payment schedule prior to any apprentice starting a programme.
Our Business Development Team will negotiate and agree a price with you for each apprenticeship undertaken. They will discuss how you will pay for the programme and support you to access and register your digital account and any funding you may be entitled to. You will need to set up a digital account at the start of the recruitment process in order to access the apprenticeship funding.
Employers will pay for an apprenticeship in one of three ways (full details can be found in the employer toolkit):
The maximum you would pay for an apprenticeship standard is listed below (if you are not using levy funds then you would only pay 5% of these costs):
| Team Leader or Supervisor Level 3 | £4,500.00 |
| Operations or Departmental Manager Level 5 | £7,000.00 |
| Associate Project Manager Level 4 | £6,000.00 |
| Schools Business Professional Level 4 | £6,000.00 |
| Coaching Professional Level 5 | £5,000.00 |
| Accounts or Finance Assistant Level 2 | £6,000.00 |
| Assistant Accountant Level 3 | £8,000.00 |
| Professional Accounting Technician Level 4 | £8,000.00 |
| Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 | £3,500.00 |
| Customer Service Professional Level 3 | £4,000.00 |
| Business Administrator Level 3 | £5,000.00 |
| Payroll Administrator Level 3* | £9,000.00 |
| Public Service Operations Delivery Officer Level 2 | £2,500.00 |
* In Development or Under Consideration
| Adult Care Worker Level 2 | £3,000.00 |
| Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 | £3,000.00 |
| Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Level 4 | £7,000.00 |
| Leader in Adult Care Level 5 | £7,000.00 |
| Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 | £3,000.00 |
| Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 | £5,000.00 |
| Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2* | £5,000.00 |
| Healthcare Cleaning Operative Level 2 | £4,000.00 |
| Laboratory Technician Level 3* | £21,000.00 |
| Coaching Professional Level 5 | £5,000.00 |
* In Development or Under Consideration
| Teaching Assistant 3 | £5,000.00 |
| Early Years Practitioner Level 2 | £4,000.00 |
| Children, Young People & Families Practitioner (Residential) Level 4 | £6,000.00 |
| Children, Young People & Families Practitioner (Community) Level 4* | £6,000.00 |
| Children, Young People & Families Manager (Community) Level 5* | £6,000.00 |
| Learning Mentor Level 3* | £5,000.00 |
| Assessor Coach Level 4* | £7,000.00 |
| Coaching Professional Level 5 | £5,000.00 |
* In Development or Under Consideration
| Digital Marketer Level 3* | £11,000.00 |
| IT Solutions Technician (Hardware) Level 3 | £13,000.00 |
| IT Solutions Technician (Software) Level 3 | £13,000.00 |
| Junior Content Producer Level 3* | £12,000.00 |
* In Development or Under Consideration
Essex County Council are striving to increase apprenticeships within the county. To provide quality opportunities for learning and development to strengthen the Essex economy. The Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service will allow levy donors to utilise unspent levy to support the apprenticeship training costs for smaller businesses. This will lead to increased learning and training opportunities for residents, and long-term benefits for levy donors and recipients.
What are the benefits of levy transfer?
Large organisations can utilise unspent levy to not only support SMEs but help to create a vibrant and diverse economy. Gifting your levy to strengthen your supply chain, demonstrate corporate social responsibility or to create strategic partnerships. The Essex market will also enjoy increased skill provision becoming robust and providing Essex businesses the skilled labour force it requires.
Our service will let SMEs connect with large organisations and benefit from funded apprenticeship training without the need to co invest.
The Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service will work in partnership with city, district and borough councils, Further Education colleges, training providers and employers across Essex to keep Essex levy within the Essex economy.
To find out how to pledge unspent levy or request funding please contact us on levytransfers@essex.gov.uk
Before the apprenticeship commences there are a few things that we will need you to do. Our Business Development Team will explain what you need to do, and when, and will be on hand to provide support and answer any questions that you may have.
Non-levy & Levy funded apprenticeship contractual information
We run monthly free online sessions. These sessions are for employers looking to recruit new or upskill current staff, and for those looking to apply for an apprenticeship. Our teams will take you through all the necessary information, available opportunities, and answer any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision. All sessions are live and free to join.
Hello, my name is Rubie Hubbard and I recently completed my Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship with ACL, finishing with Distinctions across the board. It took me around 15 months to complete my apprenticeship and over this time I feel I have learnt so much, both professionally and personally: I am more confident when liaising…
Last week, we visited Abbi at Little Stars Nursery. Abbi has been working at the nursery since 2021 and is positively impact children’s lives. View her full story below. Why did you choose an ACL Apprenticeship? I chose an ACL apprenticeship as I wanted to gain valuable workplace experience in the child care sector before…
Earlier this week, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, we visited Clear Thinking I.T alongside Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability. Clear Thinking deliver clear communication and IT solutions that transform businesses, helping them to move forward more productively, securely, and compliantly. They continue to provide…
Earlier this year we were invited to Arma Karma, an insurance company based in Colchester. They recently recruited Gray, who is completing their Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. “It’s really nice to see the suggestions that I make being implemented, and seeing improvements based on that. I didn’t think that I would be the sort…
Harrison is completing his Business Admin Level 3 apprenticeship at Chelmer Foods Ltd and has become an invaluable member of the team. “I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge about working in a business and developed a host of new skills but I mainly feel I’ve grown as a person. I feel more confident in…