A01-A06 Scotland - Support for Apprentices

Apprentices work while they're learning. So instead of taking you away from the day-to-day aspects of running your business, they can help you get the job done. An apprentice can bring a lot more to your site that an extra pair of hands; energy, enthusiasm and supervisory opportunities for more senior staff, which will all help to build a stronger sense of team work.

At ConstructionSkills we have a dedicated team, who will find the right apprentice to suit your business. Click here to register for an apprentice today.

Chose a link below for more information about grants available to support apprenticeships in Scotland:

What training and achievements are supported?

What is the status of trainees supported?

How much are the grants?

How do I claim?

What else might I be able to claim?

What training and achievements are supported?

Registration onto an approved apprenticeship scheme.

Off-the-job attendance with an approved training provider on an approved course.

Achievement on an SVQ.

Achievement of an apprenticeship framework. Download more information about apprenticeship frameworks.

There are three routes for an apprenticeship to follow:

• National Traineeship (NT) only - apprentices who only work towards achievement of NT framework or SVQ Level 2 containing the appropriate level of core skills where no framework is available.
• Modern Apprenticeship (MA) direct - apprentices who work directly towards an MA framework.
• National Traineeship conversion - apprentices who complete the two year NT framework or an SVQ Level 2 containing the appropriate level of core skills and then transfer onto an MA framework.

What must I do if I want to claim these grants?

There are eligibility criteria that you must meet across five different areas if you wish to claim grants for your apprentice. The criteria relate to:

• approved training
• the training provider you use
• you as an employer
• your apprentice
• registration of your apprentice onto an approved scheme

As the training systems differs in England and Wales from that in Scotland different criteria apply. Please refer to the Support for Apprentices England and Wales Web Pages for more information about these criteria.

Approved training

The minimum requirement for ConstructionSkills approved training is 35 days attendance each year, on a day-release or block-release course that leads to an approved SVQ qualification in a construction-related occupation that forms and integral part of an apprenticeship framework. You can download a list of Approved Qualifications for Achievement grants A31, A32, A33 and A34 including those qualifications applicable to apprentice grants for more information.

Training Provider

If you wish to claim grants you must use an approved training provider.

Approval is based on the following factors:

• The training provider must hold a work-based learning contract with the Local Enterprise Company (LEC) for the delivery of apprenticeship frameworks.
• The training provider must hold current approval under the Scottish Quality Management System (SQMS).

ConstructionSkills Apprenticeships has approval as a training provider; please contact your local ConstructionSkills office if you would like further information.

If your training provider is not yet approved, arrangements will be made for them to be added to the approved list, if they meet the criteria. To confirm if your training provider is approved please contact your local ConstructionSkills office.

Employer

You must be able to offer the range of work and experience necessary to comply with SVQ work-based evidence requirements.

You must ensure that your apprentice has access to support and guidance.

Employers must provide tools and protective clothing.

Apprentices will be expected to receive an appropriate wage, for example under the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC) rule agreement, although the level of the wage you pay lies solely between you and your apprentice. For further advice employers should contact the National Minimum Wage Helpline on 0845 6000 678, download online information or contact their Federation.

Apprentice

Your apprentice must be employed by you.

Your apprentice must pass the ConstructionSkills Structured Learning Exercise (SLE) and demonstrate the ability to complete the Key Skills element of the apprenticeship framework:

• The minimum standard is a score of 11 on the SLE diagram interpretation element and a score of 6 on the numeracy element. This score may be higher depending on the occupation chosen. Contact your training provider in the first instance about taking the test as they may already be using the ConstructionSkills test.
  
• The exercise is however, available free of charge from your local ConstructionSkills area office and must be taken in controlled conditions. Contact your local ConstructionSkills office for more advice.

You must ensure that your apprentice is registered with an approved training provider and that the agreed main learning objective is the completion of an apprenticeship framework - or alternative where a framework is not available.

You must inform your local ConstructionSkills office immediately if:

• the apprentice leaves the training programme or your employment
• the apprentice is dismissed

To inform us please download the appropriate form.

Failure to report any of the above will result in action by ConstructionSkills to recover any overpayment of grant.

Apprentice Registration

Your apprentice must be registered under a ConstructionSkills approved industry apprenticeship scheme if you wish to claim grants.

For example:

• Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC)
• other schemes including heating and ventilation, surveying, plumbing and electrical

If the scheme you intend to use is not listed please contact you local ConstructionSkills office for advice.

What training and achievements are not supported?

Whilst you are claiming apprentice attendance grants you cannot claim any other grant for the same apprentice other than:

• Necessary and appropriate off-the-job training that is not included in the individual's apprenticeship framework where the cost of the training is met by the employer (e.g. first aid training, confined spaces training). This is only available to employers who have a Training and Development Plan supported by grant B101/102.
• A skills test which is supported by grant A07.

What is the status of trainees supported?

Employed apprentices following ConstructionSkills' approved training where funding agency finance is available.

If you are in the Specialist Sector and you cannot meet the criteria for apprentice grants, alternative grant may be available through the Training and Development Plan Route.

What is the status of trainees not supported?

Apprentices who do not meet the entry criteria.

Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs) - apprentices on a complementary apprenticeship routes who are only eligible to receive SVQ/NVQ achievement grants A31/A32 and not registration, framework or attendance grants.

Labour-only sub-contractors (LOSC) and agency staff.

How much are the grants?

The grant rates for apprentice attendance are fixed within the CITB-ConstructionSkills Grants Scheme year in which your apprentice started training, even if rates are increased or decreased in subsequent years.

The grant rates for SVQ and framework achievements are paid at the rate current at the time of your apprentice achieving the qualification.

The grants payable depend upon which route your apprentice follows:

* If you apprentice is completing a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) direct apprenticeship they may not complete the National Traineeship (NT) framework achievement. However, the value of grant will be paid to you when your apprentice achieves their SVQ Level 2 achievement (A31).

** Grant for 3rd year attendance (A05) is not generally available for Scottish apprentices. However, employers of apprentices who are required to attend a third year at college to complete their MA framework will be entitled to a grant of £1000. Please contact your local ConstructionSkills office for further information.

Other financial support may be available. If ConstructionSkills Apprenticeships is the work-based learning provider or if your apprentice is attending the National Construction College we will pay the college tuition fees and some travel costs. Please apply to our New Entrant Training Team at your local ConstructionSkills office.

If you employ an apprentice whose previous employer has already received grants, you may be entitled to further grant support for that apprentice. You can download further information about grants for partially trained apprentices.

If you meet the eligibility criteria at 31st July each year you will automatically receive 25% supplementary payments on attendance and achievements attained during that Grants Scheme year.

This rate may be reduced if sufficient Levy funding was not available. This is only likely to take effect in exceptional circumstances.

How do I claim?

If your apprentice is registered with ConstructionSkills as the approved training provider you need only complete and return the SBATC deeds which will be sent to you automatically, once all the apprenticeship paperwork is complete.

You must comply with the following deadlines:

• your apprentice must have completed 13 weeks of continuous, contracted employment with you.
• you must complete and sign the SBATC deeds and return them to SBATC within 26 weeks from the start date of the training with a cheque for £41.13 made payable to 'Scottish Building Apprenticeships and Training Council'.
• attendance grants will only be paid once all the administration criteria have been met. SBATC deeds must be received within the 26 week deadline for attendance grant to be backdated to the start of training.
• if you miss the 26 week deadline but send the deeds to us within 53 weeks, we will pay attendance grants (for A03 and A05 where appropriate) starting from year 2 as well as achievement grants (A04, A06, A31 and A32) as appropriate.
• If you miss the 53 week deadline you will forfeit all of the attendance grants (A02, A03 and A05). However, you may still claim the achievement grants (A04, A06, A31 and A32) as appropriate.

Other Schemes

If your apprentice is registered with a different training provider you will need to apply for grant by completing a YNET/Grant02A claim form which is available by contacting your local ConstructionSkills office.

You will also need to register your apprentice onto an approved apprenticeship scheme. Full details can be obtained from your local ConstructionSkills office.

There are penalties for not lodging you apprenticeship deeds in accordance with the Grants Scheme rules.

What claim forms do I use?

• A01 - apprentice registration grant. Please refer to registration information above for details of deadlines. Once we have received your SBATC deed or other approved scheme documentation, with the appropriate fees, a pre-populated claim form will be sent to you to claim the registration grant, provided you are eligible to receive this grant under the Grants Scheme rules. You will need to sign the form and return it to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy & Grant Department to claim your grant.
• A02, A03 and A05 - 1st, 2nd and 3rd year attendance grants. No claim form is necessary. This grant is paid automatically every 13 weeks. There is no deadline.
• A31/A32 - SVQ Level 2/3 attendance. A pre-populated claim form GC1/1 will be sent to you where Construction Awards Alliance is the awarding body. You will need to sign the form and return it to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy & Grant Department to claim your grant. For all other awarding bodies (or if you do not receive a claim form within three months of your apprentice receiving their Level 3 certificate) please download and complete a GC1 claim form and submit this to the Levy & Grant Department.
• A04/A06 - NT and MA Framework achievement. A pre-populated claim for GC1/1 will be sent to you where Construction Awards Alliance is the awarding body. You will need to sign the form and return it to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy & Grant Department to claim your grant. For all other framework achievements (or if you do not receive a claim form within three months of your apprentice achieving their framework) please download and complete a GC1 claim form and submit this to the Levy & Grant Department.

All GC1 claim forms must be received by 31st October 2009 unless the certificate is still outstanding, in which case it must be submitted within 3 months of the certificate issue date or your claims will be rejected.

Where do I send the forms?

Apprenticeship deeds should be sent to SBATC.

YNET/Grant02A forms should be sent to your local ConstructionSkills office (with the exception of Construction Industry Training Contractors (CITCs) which should be sent to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy & Grant Department at ConstructionSkills, Bircham Newton, Norfolk, PE31 6RH).

All other claim forms must be sent to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Levy & Grant Department.

What else do I need to submit?

If you are claiming a framework achievement grant (A04 or A06) where the certificate is not awarded by Construction Awards Alliance, you must attach a copy of this certificate to your GC1 claim form.

If you do not receive your certificate before the deadline you must still submit a claim form. We will ask you to provide evidence of achievement when it is available to you.

What else might I be able to claim?

If you employ an apprentice who was made redundant by their former employer you may be entitled to an adoption grant.

Where applicable you may also claim for passing a Skills Test (grant A07).

You may also claim for necessary and appropriate off-the-job training which is not included on the individual's apprenticeship framework (e.g. first aid or confined spaces training) through a Training and Development Plan (B101/102), where the cost of the training is met by the employer.