Construction company Carillion will create 5,000 new apprentices over the next five years across the country.
The news comes following the Autumn Statement, which was delivered last week. The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne revealed plans to end employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) for all apprentices under 25. As a result, Carillion has announced it will create 5,000 new apprentices over the next five years.
The changes to the tax will save businesses over £1,000 a year when they employ an apprentice earning £16,000. It is hoped the tax relief will help to boost apprenticeship places across all sectors in the UK.
Osborne said: “We are abolishing the jobs tax on young apprentices as part of our long term economic plan to help businesses.
“Since 2010, 2 million people have taken up an apprenticeship and it is our plan to boost the number of apprentices still further.
“When a business is giving a young person a chance in life, we are very clear that government must support them fully, not tax them.”
Ray Wilson, director and general manager at Carillion Training Services, said: “We are enormously proud of our track record in providing employment and training for young people and we have set ourselves a target of employing in excess of 5,000 new apprentices across our network of training centres.
“We welcome the support for apprenticeships announced in the Autumn Statement which will help to give young people genuine life chances and enable them to realise their full potential.
“Former Carillion apprentices are now helping to build Britain’s future roads, rail and social infrastructure and supporting businesses across the globe.
“We are proud to be putting in place plans that will benefit the UK economy for decades to come and giving today’s young people the opportunity of some exciting careers.”
The apprentices will be based out of Carillion’s network of training centres across the UK.
