Minister opens Apprenticeship Challenge Fund

Date published: 28 September 2020

Economy Minister Diane Dodds today announced that her Apprenticeship Challenge Fund is open for applications.

Minister Dodds on an earlier visit to Impact Training in north Belfast where she announced the three new apprenticeship schemes.
Minister Dodds on an earlier visit to Impact Training in north Belfast where she announced the three new apprenticeship schemes.

Successful applicants could receive one-off awards of up to £50,000, with proposals with multiple partners or features potentially receiving up to £100,000. 

The Minister said:

“I am determined to do all I can develop an effective skills pipeline to support the needs of both employers and our economy while, at the same time, providing valuable employment for our young people. That is why I am pleased to announce the opening of the Apprenticeship Challenge Fund today. It will support innovative approaches and new collaborations to increase apprenticeship opportunities in Northern Ireland.”

The challenge fund, which the Minister announced earlier this month, is designed to support increased participation in the Northern Ireland apprenticeship system. Each proposal will be assessed and awards will be made for potential new apprenticeship models and pathways.

Successful applicants could receive one off awards of up to £50,000, with proposals with multiple partners or features potentially receiving up to £100,000. The Department will use the evaluation of successful proposals to inform longer term approaches to support apprenticeships. It will also assist with the mitigation of the impact of Covid-19 on the skills pipeline. 

The Minister added:

“I encourage all organisations with an interest in the Northern Ireland apprenticeship system to consider making an application to the Apprenticeship Challenge Fund. This is a unique opportunity to encourage the development of new, innovative apprenticeship models and pathways, and promote collaboration to increase employer confidence within the Northern Ireland apprenticeship system.”

The scheme opens for applications today (28 September 2020) and will close at 4pm on 23 October 2020. 

Earlier this month, the Minister announced Apprentice Recovery Packages which offers up to £3,700 of support, per apprentice, to employers who return an apprentice from furlough and retain them until they have completed their apprenticeship. It will open at the beginning of November.

She also announced her Apprenticeship Recruitment Incentive initiative which offers support of £3,000, to employers, for each new apprenticeship opportunity created between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

Notes to editors: 

  1. Application to the Apprenticeship Challenge Fund can be made from 10am today (September 28) through nibusinessinfo website
  2. The Department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the Department’s internal records management system. The Department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The Department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
  3. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office on pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk
  4. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI
  5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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