Prime minister Rishi Sunak told Monday’s Business Connect conference (18 March) the government would fully fund apprenticeships in small businesses from 1 April by paying the full cost of training for anyone aged up to 21.
This, the government said, will reduce costs for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as for further education colleges, which usually have to source their own funding separately. The government will increase the amount big companies who pay the apprenticeship levy can pass onto smaller businesses from 25% to 50%.
Ministers will also set up an Invest in Women Taskforce to unlock private investments for women.
