Breaking News: Government to Offer Bursaries for Apprenticeships
The government has announced a new bursary program for parents on benefits, providing up to £4,500 a year to encourage their children to start apprenticeships. This initiative aims to offset lost Universal Credit payments when young people begin work.
The payment will support thousands of families facing potential weekly losses between £17 and £330 if their children take on apprenticeships. Funding for the bursary will come from a £30 million pool, sourced from a tax on employers with annual wage bills over £3 million.
A recent report from the Social Security Advisory Committee highlighted the negative impact of the current benefits system on young people’s job choices, particularly for single parents with disabled children. These parents could lose up to £340 weekly if their children start apprenticeships.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated that the bursary will help remove barriers to apprenticeship participation. The government aims to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (Neet), currently over one million.
Opposition voices have raised concerns about the funding’s clarity and sustainability.
