£3000 Hiring Incentives for Employers Hiring Young People
Across the UK, many employers are facing increasing pressure when it comes to recruitment. But at the same time, there is a growing range of government backed hiring incentives designed to reduce the cost of bringing in new talent. Many organisations are simply not making full use of what is available.
How to Reduce Hiring Costs Through Apprenticeships and Government Support
Across the UK, many employers are facing increasing pressure when it comes to recruitment.
Hiring is more competitive. Salaries are rising. Retention is harder.
But at the same time, there is a growing range of government backed hiring incentives designed to reduce the cost of bringing in new talent.
Many organisations are simply not making full use of what is available.
What Hiring Incentives Can Employers Access
Depending on the type of hire and eligibility, employers may be able to access:
£1,000 for hiring apprentices aged 16 to 18
£2,000 for SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16 to 24
£2,000 for hiring foundation apprentices aged 16 to 21
£3,000 for hiring individuals aged 18 to 24 who have been on Universal Credit for 6 months
No employer National Insurance contributions for employees under 21 or apprentices under 25
Full salary support through Jobs Guarantee schemes for long term unemployed young people
These incentives are designed to reduce upfront hiring costs while supporting long term skills development.
Why This Matters for Employers
This is not just about financial support. It is about responding to a changing labour market.
Employers are increasingly dealing with:
Skills shortages across key roles
Difficulty attracting entry level talent
High costs of hiring experienced staff
The need for long term workforce planning
Hiring incentives create an opportunity to shift from reactive recruitment to structured talent development.
Apprenticeships as a Strategic Hiring Approach
Apprenticeships sit at the centre of many of these incentives.
They provide a funded, work based route to bring in new talent while developing capability over time.
Through apprenticeships, employers can:
Recruit individuals aligned to business needs
Develop skills within real operational roles
Access funding to reduce training costs
Create clear progression pathways
Improve retention through structured support
Rather than competing in an expensive hiring market, apprenticeships allow organisations to build talent from within.
Turning Incentives Into Real Impact
Accessing funding is only part of the picture. The real value comes from how it is used.
At Momentous Learning, we work with employers to turn hiring incentives into structured programmes that deliver measurable outcomes.
We support organisations to:
✔ Understand and maximise available funding
✔ Identify the right apprenticeship pathways
✔ Recruit and onboard new talent
✔ Embed learning into day to day operations
✔ Build long term workforce capability
Our focus is on ensuring hiring is not just cost effective, but sustainable.
Building a Workforce That Grows With Your Business
Hiring incentives provide a window of opportunity. Used well, they allow organisations to:
Reduce recruitment costs
Build future talent pipelines
Develop skills aligned to business needs
Strengthen retention and engagement
This is not just about filling roles. It is about building a workforce that grows with your organisation over time.
Exploring What This Could Look Like
If hiring, retention or workforce development is on your agenda this year, it is worth exploring how these incentives could support your plans.
At Momentous Learning, we are working with employers across the UK to turn funding opportunities into practical, work based development that delivers real impact.
If you would like to explore what this could look like for your organisation, we would be happy to have a conversation.
