The Apprenticeship Return, Retain & Result Scheme (RRR) provides incentive payments to employers to support the return, retention and result for apprentices
Businesses that have had to furlough an apprentice under the terms of the UK Government Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be able to access incentive payments through the Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme (RRR).
The scheme will help you return your apprentice(s) from furlough, and retain them through to successful completion of their apprenticeship.
The total amount payable under the scheme will be a maximum of £3,700 per apprentice, distribution as follows:
- Return – £500 per returned furloughed apprentice payable for the first full month of paid apprenticeship between 1 November 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- Retain – maximum of £2,000 available: £500 per month for up to 4 consecutive months of paid apprenticeship following the ‘return’ month between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- Result – £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice.
Who is Eligible?
This scheme is open to employers participating in the Department for the Economy funded ApprenticeshipsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes, who return apprentices furloughed via the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to work with payments as follows:
Return Incentive – £500 per returned apprentice
- Payable for the first complete month of paid employment for the returned apprentice and completed between 1 November 2020 and 31 March 2022.
- For those who returned apprentices from furlough before 1 November 2020, continued employment for the month of November 2020, will constitute the earliest qualifying period for the ‘return’ incentive. This incentive will be paid on submitted claims with appropriate evidence of furlough, apprenticeship and paid employment.
Retain Incentive – you will be able to apply for up to £2,000 for each apprentice you have retained
- £500 will be available for each full month for a period of up to 4 consecutive months following the ‘return’ month and completed between 1 December 2020 to the end of March 2022.
- The period of retain will also adjust to reflect any in-month apprentice returners. For example, if an apprentice returned on the 12 November, the return month would be captured as 12 November to 11 December.
- If an apprentice is ‘flexi-furloughed’ during the retain period payments will be calculated on a prorate basis based upon the percentage of time spent in work. You can choose to delay the ‘retain’ claim period until the period of flexi-furlough has ended provided the period is completed by 31 March 2022.
Result Incentive – £1,200 for successful completion of all apprenticeship components by a returned furloughed apprentice
- This incentive is payable alongside any of the other employer incentives and will be payable on submission of proof of full framework achievement of the AppsNI or Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA).
- The timing of this payment will depend upon when the apprenticeship is successfully completed and will be payable for all successful completions beginning from 1 November 2020.
To note: Once an apprenticeship is complete, no further retain incentive beyond the completion date can be claimed. However is the apprentice moves to a higher level, employers can maintain eligibility for return and retain payments by delaying ‘result’ until the end of the apprentice’s new level.
What evidence will I need?
It is important that you retain evidence of when:
- your apprentice was furloughed
- your apprentice returned and was retained, in paid employment during the period claimed, this can be up to the total period of 5 months (1 month return and up to 4 months retained) and,
- your apprentice has continued and completed their AppsNI or HLA apprenticeship programme
Further details of evidence requirements will be detailed in the application pack.
How to apply?
The Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme is now open for applications.
Please send completed forms and all required evidence, or any queries you may have regarding the scheme or your application to ApprenticeshipsRecovery@economy-ni.gov.uk.
Please note it is the responsibility of the applicant (employer/company) to ensure that they have sought permission to supply personal details of individuals (apprentices) they are claiming for to support their claim. Download the privacy notice for apprenticeships recovery incentives (DOC, 59K).