Apprentice training grants
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A NEW scheme to provide grants for craft apprentice training in the Development Areas was announced by the Ministry of Labour last week.
The scheme offers two alternative kinds of payment. One is to provide grants to encourage the creation of new off-the-job training places.
Though Training Boards encourage such training within their industries, a shortage of capital sometimes restricts firms in organizing their apprentice programmes. The Ministry therefore offers 60 per cent of the normal cost of an off-the-job training place which, in engineering, would amount to about £600.
In industries where off-the-job training is less appropriate the second alternative will be an annual payment for every apprentice taken on in addition to those employed during the three months up to January 1, 1968.
For each extra apprentice a grant of £100 will be paid every year for the next five years and during the first year of the scheme an extra £50 bonus will be paid in midsummer for each additional apprentice.
Next year over £120m will be distributed to individual firms as training and grants but most training must be run arid paid for by industry. Additionally, however, the Ministry itself is concerned to establish priorities and encourage extra efforts such as in the Development Areas, namely the Northern, South Western, Merseyside, Welsh and Scottish areas.