Asked by: Baroness Freeman of Steventon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support small and medium-sized enterprises to address the indirect costs of training apprentices in heritage building crafts, such as travel and accommodation for training.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. We are investing an additional £2.5 billion into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to support nearly one million 16–24-year-olds into work, education or training. Over the next three years, this investment will deliver up to 300,000 opportunities for workplace experience and training, and unlock up to 200,000 jobs, including through the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and guaranteeing jobs for long-term unemployed young people on Universal Credit.
The government provides a wide range of financial support to help employers to take on apprentices including in the heritage building crafts.
We are introducing a new employer hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, that take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. It will apply to apprenticeship starts from October, as long as they have joined their employer within the past 3 months. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant from June 2026.
The government also pays £1,000 to both employers, of all sizes, and providers for apprentices aged 16-18, and for apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in local authority care. This payment can be used to cover any costs related to their employment, for example work equipment, travel costs or uniform.
Additionally, from August 2026, we will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers for eligible people aged 16-24. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16-21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care.
Asked by: Baroness Freeman of Steventon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they provide to stonemasonry trainees at level 3 to help them to progress and demonstrate progression in their careers.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have a current level 2 apprenticeship standard Stonemason which has 247 starts on programme. York college and the Building Crafts College, London, are the main providers of the apprenticeship and they have close links to York Minster and many historical buildings around London. We are working with the sector to explore the potential for a L3 Stonemason apprenticeship.
Asked by: Baroness Freeman of Steventon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many training providers are currently able to run level 2 apprenticeships in stonemasonry; and what plans they have to support further providers to offer that course.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information regarding the training providers which deliver the Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship standard is published here https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/637/providers.
There are four providers: York College, Bath College, Building Crafts College and Moulton College.
Asked by: Baroness Freeman of Steventon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether apprenticeships within priority heritage building crafts will include funding for the apprentice's salary and a compensation grant to SME employers to address reduced productivity linked to the apprenticeship.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Employer satisfaction with apprenticeships is very high: 83% of employers are satisfied with their apprenticeship programme; and 77% report improved productivity.
The government is investing an additional £725m to transform the apprenticeship levy into a growth and skills levy, and provides a range of financial support to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in all sectors to take on apprentices.
We pay £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in care. Employers are also not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).
Additionally, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the start of the next academic year in August. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16 to 21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in local authority care.
To help prospective apprentices find apprenticeship opportunities, they can search and apply for apprenticeships on our Find an apprenticeship service which is used by thousands of employers.
Asked by: Baroness Freeman of Steventon (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to provide funding to scale up the apprenticeship website matchMAKER by Heritage Crafts to allow it to include profiles of apprentices looking for apprenticeships as well as a list of available apprenticeships.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Employer satisfaction with apprenticeships is very high: 83% of employers are satisfied with their apprenticeship programme; and 77% report improved productivity.
The government is investing an additional £725m to transform the apprenticeship levy into a growth and skills levy, and provides a range of financial support to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in all sectors to take on apprentices.
We pay £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in care. Employers are also not required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year).
Additionally, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the start of the next academic year in August. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16 to 21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in local authority care.
To help prospective apprentices find apprenticeship opportunities, they can search and apply for apprenticeships on our Find an apprenticeship service which is used by thousands of employers.