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2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring...

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Government cash incentives doubled for employers to hire new apprentices

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

In addition to pre-existing incentives in place the government has introduced new funding grants during the pandemic for employers taking on new apprentices, meaning that they could now receive up to £4,000 per apprentice.

The additional apprenticeship financial incentives were first announced by Sunak back in July 2020 and currently offer firms £2,000 to take on apprentices aged 16 to 24, while those that employ new apprentices aged 25 and over can receive £1,500. These bonuses were initially set to end this month.

However, during the recent Budget at the beginning of March Sunak announced an extension and increase to these incentives, so that from 1st April 2021 until 30th September 2021 employers who take on a new apprentice of any age will receive an incentive payment of £3,000, superseding the current incentives.

This is in addition to the pre-existing £1,000 payment already provided for new apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan, meaning that some employers could receive £4,000 in total and on top of having the majority of training funded by the government, meaning it has never been a better time to employ an apprentice.

 

Bike shops able to benefit from cash boost and skilled new employees

The extended and increased payments will have the potential to be both transformational for young people and employers alike.

Alongside a much-needed cash boost for bike shops and businesses, the scheme encourages employers to grow their own talent, creating some amazing opportunities for people to start a rewarding career within the cycling industry.

Activate Cycle Academy (ACA) deliver an 18-month apprenticeship in Bicycle Mechanics and is the only training provider to offer Cytech training as part of an apprenticeship. Cytech, managed by the ACT, is the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians.

Cytech courses 

Cytech is at the heart of the training to ensure that all apprentices gain industry recognised qualifications when completing their apprenticeship. It includes the online Cytech Theory One and the Technical two and Technical three qualifications, as well as topics such as e-bikes, business studies, customer service and advanced selling skills resulting in a very experienced and highly skilled apprentice on completion of their training.

If you're considering hiring a new member of staff for your business and looking to give them the skill set they need to thrive, then a Cytech based Apprenticeship could be just the solution.

Employers interested in taking on a cycle mechanic apprentice or would like to learn more about the recent Government funding incentive details, should contact ACA on 01865 550 324 or email cycles@activatelearning.ac.uk.

 

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