Funding rules can sound complicated but they don’t have to be. This guide explains, in plain English, how apprenticeship funding works for SMEs in 2025, what it really costs and how NTG makes the process simple.
Who pays for Apprenticeship training?
There are two funding routes for apprenticeships in England:
- Levy-paying employers (annual wage bill over 3 million) use their apprenticeship levy funds to pay for training.
- Non-levy employers (most SMEs) receive 95% government co-funding, paying just 5% of the training cost.
💡Example: Training a marketer through the Multi-Channel Marketer (Level 3) Apprenticeship costs around £11,000. Your SME contributes roughly £550, while the government funds the remaining £10,450.
What is co-funding and how does it work?
Co-funding means the government pays most of the training cost directly to your chosen training provider (NTG), and you only pay the small balance. Payments are made monthly over the duration of the programme, keeping cash flow manageable.
In addition, NTG helps employers register on the government’s Apprenticeship Service portal and set up their digital account so you never have to navigate the paperwork alone.
What about the Apprenticeship levy?
If your business pays into the levy, you already have training funds waiting in your digital account. Those funds can cover 100% of apprenticeship costs, including the MCM (Level 3) programme.
Levy-paying employers can also transfer up to 25% of unused funds to smaller businesses in their supply chain = helping partners benefit from training while ensuring levy money is used effectively.
GOV.UK – Apprenticeship funding rules
How long does funding approval take?
The process is straightforward and usually completed within one to two weeks. Once your account is set up, NTG confirms eligibility, creates your apprentice record and manages all government documentation.
As a result, you can start training quickly. Often within a month of enquiry.
What support do you get from NTG?
NTG handles all aspects of funding and compliance, including:
- Registering your apprenticeship account.
- Submitting funding evidence.
- Tracking payment schedules.
- Providing progress reports through GA4-linked dashboards.
Therefore, you stay focused on your business while NTG ensures everything runs smoothly.
Why Apprenticeship funding matters for SMEs
Apprenticeships aren’t just cost-effective, they help build sustainable skills and reduce recruitment risk.
By investing in training rather than short-term hiring, SMEs develop loyal marketers who understand their business from the inside.
💬 “Our apprentice was delivering results within eight weeks and the cost was less than £600.” – NTG Employer Feedback”
Make funding work for your business
Understanding apprenticeship funding shouldn’t be hard. With NTG, it’s transparent, quick and practical
📞Book a 15-minute eligibility call – see what funding your SME could access.
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