16 July 2020

This update covers:

  • England: new apprenticeship incentive payments to start in August.
  • Apprenticeships and coronavirus: government guidance for England updated.
  • England: face coverings required in shops – no announcement yet for salons/barbershops.
  • Face coverings in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

New apprenticeship incentive payments for England to start in August

The government has announced further details about its plan to offer financial incentives to employers in England who take on an apprentice:

  • An incentive payment will be made to employers who hire an apprentice between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021.
  • The apprentice must be a new employee to the business, have a contract of employment start date between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021 (inclusive) and must not have been employed by the employer within the six months prior to the contract start date.
  • Employers can make claims through the apprenticeship service from 1 September 2020.
  • For apprentices aged 16-24 the payment will be £2,000, and for apprentices aged 25 or over the payment will be £1,500.
  • The payment will be made directly to employers in two equal instalments at day 90 and day 365.
  • There will be no limit on the number of incentive payments that an employer can claim for eligible apprentices.

This money is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the government already provides for new 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an education, health and care Plan.

Find more information about apprenticeship funding in England from August 2020.

Apprenticeships and coronavirus: government guidance for England updated

The government has updated its guidance for providing apprenticeships in England during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance includes information on:

  • How training and assessment can continue in line with safer working.
  • How to handle end-point assessments.
  • Reopening of educational settings.
  • Universal credit for apprentices who have been made redundant but continue their studies.
  • A planned support service for apprentices who are made redundant.
  • The temporary suspension of functional skills assessments at level 2.

England: face coverings required in shops – no announcement yet for salons/barbershops

The government in England has announced that face coverings must be worn by customers in shops from 24 July 2020. The NHBF has asked the government to confirm whether or not this rule will apply to clients in salons and barbershops.

The law also says that people on public transport in England must wear a face covering.

In salons and barbershops, staff should wear a visor.

Face coverings in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Wales: the Welsh Government states that “in some circumstances where it might be difficult to stay two metres away from others, we are advising the use of three-layer, non-medical face coverings.”

In salons and barbershops, staff should wear a visor.

Scotland: people must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport and public transport premises such as railway and bus stations and airports. This applies to open-air railway platforms, but not to bus stops.

Face coverings must be worn by staff and clients in salons and barbershops. Staff should wear a visor in addition to a face covering.

Northern Ireland: people on public transport in Northern Ireland must wear a face covering.

In salons and barbershops, staff should wear a visor.

See all updates