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19 Feb 2026

Cycling Industry News (CIN) is once again asking independent bike dealers and workshops to take part in its annual Market Data Survey to help build an...

19 Feb 2026

iceBike* 2026 reported record registrations and attendance growth for the second consecutive year at events held at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester and the Lee Valley VeloPark in...

19 Feb 2026

Local Bike Shop Week is approaching, with this year’s celebrations taking place from Sunday 3 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 - and retailers have highlighted the positive experiences they've...

17 Feb 2026

A week to celebrate and highlight the expertise and passion of independent bike shops across the UK is set to be held this May.

16 Feb 2026

A 18-strong coalition of business organisations and tax experts, including the ACT and led-by its parent company Bira, has today written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury calling for a...

10 Feb 2026

The global Cytech training network says it’s strengthening its reach with the opening of its first-ever training facility in Wales. 

4 Feb 2026

Cycling campaigners have criticised the BBC for publishing a “one-sided” report on e-bike pavement parking that blamed riders while overlooking other pedestrian hazards.

4 Feb 2026

British Transport Police (BTP) have abandoned a controversial policy that meant officers would not investigate bicycle thefts if a bike had been left outside a railway station for more than two...

3 Feb 2026

Cycling governing bodies have called on the Government to commit £30 million in targeted public investment to deliver what they describe as “transformational” benefits for...

29 Jan 2026

The government's decision to give pubs a 15% business rates discount while excluding independent retailers is a "poor decision based on politics rather than what is good for the local economy",...

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Apprenticeship funding changes and bigger discounts for ACT members

Posted on in Cycles News

With the recent changes to apprenticeship funding, it can now cost even less to take on an apprentice.

Whether you already have a member of staff in your business who wants to enhance their technical knowledge, or you're looking to take on a new member of staff and give them the skills they need to thrive, an Apprenticeship could be the right solution.

There have been significant changes to the way apprenticeship funding works, including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy and more support for smaller employers.

Larger employers (with an annual wage bill of over £3 million) are now required to pay 0.5% of their wage bill into a levy to be used towards funding apprenticeships.

Smaller employees, (with an annual wage bill under £3 million), do not have to pay a levy. They also benefit from additional funding, paying just 10% of apprenticeship costs, while the Government pays 90%.

ATG Training, provider of Cytech cycle maintenance apprenticeships, have been able to restructure the price of their apprenticeship programme thanks to the changes in government funding.

Putting an employee through the Intermediate Cycle Maintenance apprenticeship now costs just £500 in employer contributions, with a 20% discount for ACT members, making it just £400.

The Advanced Cycle Maintenance apprenticeship now costs just £995, with a 10% discount for ACT staff, at just £900.

Better still, companies with fewer than 50 employees that take on apprentices aged between 16 and 18 will have 100% of their training costs paid for.

ATG Training offers two apprenticeships for cycle mechanics:

  • Intermediate Cycle Maintenance - for working mechanics who want more training and qualifications under their belts. This includes a Cycle Maintenance Certificate, Cytech technical two training (including wheel building) and qualification, Cycle Maintenance NVQ2 and Keyskills Level 1 or 2.
  • Advanced Cycle Apprenticeship - for those who want more technical know-how after completing the standard apprenticeship. This includes the Diploma of Cycle Maintenance, Cytech technical three training and qualification, Cycle Maintenance NVQ3 and Keyskills at a minimum of Level 2.

To find out more click here, contact ATG Training on info@atg-training.co.uk or call 01296 737 800.

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