Update on the Employer Support Fund (ESF)

As announced on 23rd April, we are introducing the Employer Support Fund (ESF) to help providers support employers with essential costs associated with delivering high-quality T Level industry placements. This fund will support placements that begin between April 23, 2025 and March 31, 2026 and is available to support:

1. Employers of all sizes delivering Construction T Levels 
2. Employers of all sizes delivering Health T Levels 
3. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) delivering all other T Levels 

All providers will be given an allocation for construction placements, and health and SME placements. Due to the nature of funding, construction funding will be ringfenced for construction placements.

Providers will be able to draw down against their allocation and claim funds in arrears. Claims will need to be supported by receipts with the first payment made in October to cover placements starting from 23 April to 30 September.

Allocations will be determined based on the number of students studying relevant T levels and the expected proportion of eligible employers needing support. Providers will decide how to use their allocation to support employers with their cost barriers.

We will be contacting providers this month to confirm your provider allocation. You will have two weeks to respond and opt in to the fund. It is essential you respond in this timeframe as you will not be able to opt in later in the year. Providers will be expected to make full use of the fund throughout the year. We expect funding to support value for money decisions targeted on employers facing high upfront costs who would otherwise be unable to host placements.

More guidance will be made available to support the fund including provider webinars – dates for these webinars will be communicated shortly.