From April 2026, the Apprenticeship Levy became the Growth and Skills Levy. The name is not the only thing that has changed. This plain English guide explains what is different, what it means for your marketing training budget, and what to do next — split by employer type.
The Growth and Skills Levy 2026: A Plain English Guide for UK Marketing Employers
If you have been paying into the Apprenticeship Levy since 2017 and you are still not entirely sure how it works — you are not alone. The system has always been more complicated than it needed to be. And from April 2026, it has changed significantly.
This guide cuts through the noise. Find your situation below and start there.
Before We Start: What Has Actually Changed?
New name
The Apprenticeship Levy is now the Growth and Skills Levy. The mechanism — 0.5% of payroll over £3m — stays the same.
Short courses now funded
From April 2026, levy funds can be spent on apprenticeship units — 30–140 hour modules in AI, digital, and engineering.
Funds expire in 12 months
From August 2026, levy funds expire after 12 months, not 24. Plan sooner or lose more.
10% top-up removed
The government's automatic 10% uplift on levy contributions has been removed. You receive exactly what you pay in.
Find Your Situation
For Levy-Paying Employers (Annual Pay Bill Over £3 Million)
The most urgent change for you: funds now expire in 12 months from August 2026.
- Log into your Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account and check your balance and expiry dates today.
- A Level 6 Marketing Manager apprenticeship has a £22,000 funding band — that is a significant chunk of levy deployed productively in a single programme.
- If your levy runs out and a programme continues, you now pay 25% co-investment — up from the old 5%. This makes proactive planning far more important than it was before.
- From April 2026, you can also use levy funds for apprenticeship units — short, focused modules in AI and digital skills, ideal for rapidly addressing a specific capability gap without committing to a full programme.
Action: Review your levy balance and expiry schedule. Identify marketing or digital skills gaps in your team. Contact NTG to map your need against available funded programmes.
For SMEs (Annual Pay Bill Under £3 Million)
Good news: from 2026, the 5% co-investment has been removed for apprentices under 25.
- SMEs training apprentices under 25 now pay zero training costs — 100% government funded.
- For apprentices aged 25 and over, SMEs pay 5% of the funding band — typically £250–£475 across the whole programme.
- National Insurance contributions are zero for all apprentices under 25, regardless of whether they are a new hire or existing employee.
- From October 2026, SMEs can access a £2,000 incentive for hiring new apprentices aged 16–24, paid in two instalments once the apprentice completes 90 days and 12 months.
- You do not need a DAS account with a running balance. NTG handles the funding administration; government money flows in the background.
Action: Identify a role in your business that needs marketing support, or an existing team member who would benefit from a formal qualification. Contact NTG to confirm eligibility and funding.
If You Have Never Used Apprenticeships Before
The core idea in two sentences: The government funds a significant portion of the cost of apprenticeship training. You pay your apprentice's salary; the government pays for their training.
- You do not need to understand the full system to get started — you need to understand your situation well enough to make a decision. NTG does the rest.
- Apprenticeships are available for new hires and for existing employees.
- Marketing apprenticeships are available at Level 3 (campaign delivery and content), and Level 6 (degree-level, marketing management).
- The full process from first conversation to programme start typically takes four to six weeks.
Action: Book a free discovery call with NTG. In 30 minutes we will tell you whether an apprenticeship makes sense for your business, what it will cost, and what happens next.
The Marketing Programmes NTG Delivers
| Programme | Level | Max Funding Band | Best For | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Channel Marketer | 3 | £5,000 | New to marketing or early-career; campaigns, SEO, analytics, content | 8–15 months |
| Content Creator | 3 | £9,500 | Content-focused role; video, copy, social media, brand storytelling | 8–15 months |
| Marketing Manager | 6 | £22,000 | Already managing marketing; strategy, leadership, planning, degree-level | 30–42 months |
Growth and Skills Levy in Summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What has changed? | Renamed; 12-month expiry; 10% top-up removed; short courses now available from levy |
| Who pays the levy? | Employers with annual pay bill over £3 million |
| What do SMEs pay for training? | Nothing for apprentice under 25; 5% for apprentice 25+ |
| What can levy funds be spent on? | Full apprenticeship programmes and (from April 2026) apprenticeship units |
| Can I use it for existing staff? | Yes — eligibility applies to new hires and existing employees equally |
| What is the risk if I do nothing? | Levy funds expire; co-investment costs rise; skills gaps remain |
Frequently Asked Questions
The levy is collected from our payroll automatically — do we have to do anything to access it?
You need to register with the Digital Apprenticeship Service and set up your account. NTG walks levy-paying employers through this process. Once registered, your account balance is visible and accessible.
We are a levy-paying employer but have never used the DAS account. Is it too late?
No. Your account has been accumulating funds throughout this time, subject to the expiry rules. There may be historic contributions that have already expired, but current and recent contributions are still accessible. NTG can help you review your position.
Can we spend our levy on training that is not an apprenticeship?
From April 2026, a limited range of short courses (apprenticeship units) can be funded through the levy. Beyond that, levy funds remain restricted to approved apprenticeship programmes. You cannot use levy funds for internal training days, conferences, or general CPD.
What is the difference between an apprenticeship unit and a full apprenticeship?
A full apprenticeship is a structured 8–42 month programme leading to a nationally recognised qualification with a formal End Point Assessment. An apprenticeship unit is a short standalone module — 30 to 140 hours — focused on a specific skill. Units deliver targeted upskilling faster than a full programme but do not result in a full qualification.
We have heard the Growth and Skills Levy will allow more flexibility in future. Should we wait?
The current rules are clear and active from April 2026. If you have levy funds expiring in the next 12 months, waiting for future flexibility is not a sound strategy. Act on what is available now.
Is NTG an approved training provider?
Yes. NTG Training Ltd is registered on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) and delivers Ofsted-inspected apprenticeship programmes across England. You can verify our registration on the government's Find Apprenticeship Training service.
Understand Your Levy Position — Free Discovery Call
In 30 minutes, NTG can help you understand what your levy balance looks like, which marketing programme fits your need, and what the process looks like from here. No commitment, no jargon.
