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12 Nov 2026

Wales is investing £4.5 million in cycling tourism ahead of the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027, with funding supporting cycling hubs, bike hire, trail...

11 Nov 2026

New powers to give local leaders greater control over shared e-bike schemes, including tackling nuisance parking and antisocial behaviour, are among a number of proposed...

10 Nov 2026

Fairer business rates and better support for independent retailers will be the priorities of the new president of ACT parent company Bira.

10 Nov 2026

The ACT and Cytech joined industry experts for a NextGen Mechanics webinar exploring Europe’s bicycle mechanic skills shortage and the work under way to strengthen...

9 Nov 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that Scottish shops risk falling further behind unless next month’s Scottish Budget closes the business rates gap with England and Wales.

9 Nov 2026

The ACT, along with parent company Bira, has joined dozens of trade bodies, safety organisations and businesses in calling on the Government to introduce stronger rules to prevent unsafe...

6 Nov 2026

ACT has published guidance for retailers following SRAM’s stop-sale and stop-ride notice affecting certain RockShox ZEB forks.

3 Nov 2026

Independent retailers must keep evolving and innovating to survive and thrive, according to the former president of ACT parent company Bira.
 

29 Oct 2026

The E-Bike Summit will return to London on 26 April 2027, with the E-Bike Positive campaign, co-managed by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and the Bicycle Association (BA), confirmed as a...

28 Oct 2026

Cytech technical three, the highest attainable qualification in professional cycle maintenance within the Cytech syllabus, is now available through training provider Life Cycle.

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Applications for additional Apprenticeship incentives open

Posted on in Business News ,Brands & Products News , Cycles News , Political News

ACytech coursespplications for the Government's latest additional incentive payment of £3,000 open today (11 January 2022) for employers who have hired an apprentice(s) over the winter.

Businesses who hire or have hired a new apprentice, with an employment start date between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022, can apply to receive £3,000 per new recruit (compared with £1,500-£2,000 under previous schemes) regardless of the age of the apprentice. The apprentice must also have an apprenticeship start date between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, and applications for funding are open from 11 January 2022 and close on 15 May 2022.

This means that for those businesses that haven't already, or wish to make the most of this additional incentive, have until the end of the month (January 2022) to onboard any further apprentices. After that point they then have until the end of March 2022 to enrol them onto an apprenticeship, and until 15 May 2022 to apply for the Government grant.

Cytech training provider Activate Cycle Academy (ACA) deliver the Level 2 Bicycle mechanic Apprenticeship Standard, with Cytech technical training being at the heart of their programme to ensure that all apprentices gain industry recognised qualifications as well as completing their apprenticeship. It offers the perfect mix of learning whilst working and includes the following industry's standard professional qualifications and study modules;

 

  • Cytech theory one (online)
  • Cytech technical two
  • Cytech technical three
  • Functional Skills Level 1 or 2 in English and Maths
  • Health & Safety in the Workshop
  • Legal Compliance
  • Customer service and advanced selling skills
  • Business administration studies plus lots more

Apprenticeships benefit everyone involved, particularly in challenging economic times. Employers get engaged and loyal staff, apprentices get valuable on-the-job training and customers get professionally maintained bikes. Better yet training costs involved with apprenticeships are heavily subsidised (if you don't pay into the apprenticeship levy), making it an extremely cost-effective means to upskilling your staff.

ACAMake sure your business doesn't miss out on this great opportunity to get you staff professionally trained and receive this extra Government incentive grant. For more information about how this apprenticeship can boost your business, please contact Activate Cycle Academy on 01865 550324 or at cycles@activatelearning.ac.uk.

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