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9 Jul 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that a new cap on Royal Mail's daily business collection capacity could cause serious problems for small retailers during the most important trading period of...

8 Jul 2026

Amazon and safety certification organisation UL have secured a court order preventing five e-bike and e-scooter companies from falsely claiming their products were UL-certified, marking another...

7 Jul 2026

The illegal use of electric off-road motorbikes and modified e-bikes fitted with throttles that effectively convert them into mopeds or motorbikes has become a road safety priority, according to...

1 Jul 2026

The ACT has warned that rising employment costs are quietly killing off one of the industry's most important entry points,  that being the traditional Saturday job.

30 Jun 2026

A new specialist police training course focused on e-bike compliance, enforcement and safety has been launched by Cytech training provider and ACT member Activate Cycle Academy to help forces...

26 Jun 2026

Retailers offering Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) or other short-term interest-free credit options should be aware of important regulatory changes taking effect from 15 July 2026.

26 Jun 2026

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed government moves to accelerate reforms to low-value import rules, but warned that the October 2028 timetable still leaves UK high streets exposed to unfair...

25 Jun 2026

Consumer watchdog Which has brought together retail industry leaders to call for tougher regulation of online marketplaces amid growing concerns over unsafe and non compliant products being sold...

24 Jun 2026

The ACT is backing a nationwide campaign from Cycling UK aimed at helping more people get back on their bikes with free safety checks and simple repairs this summer.

24 Jun 2026

Independent retailers have welcomed government proposals to tackle VAT fraud through online marketplaces, describing the move as a positive step towards creating a fairer trading environment for...

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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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