Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund

The fund is open to any organisation that has experience or an interest in the Northern Ireland apprenticeships system, however, all activity funded under the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund must promote or broaden access to DfE-funded apprenticeship programmes across the underrepresented cohorts of women; people with disabilities; and those from disadvantaged areas.

DfE has allocated a budget of £600,000 for the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund. Successful applicants could receive one-off awards of around £100,000 each for the development of their proposal.

Successful applicants will be funded to undertake activity to develop new or innovative solutions to grow and maintain the supply of apprenticeship opportunities under the three key themes of: women; people with disabilities; and those from areas of disadvantage. The nature of activity funded will differ depending on the activity involved. Eligible costs will be identified in the letter of offer to successful applicants, but could typically include staff costs; the costs involved in collaboration/engagement; marketing, etc.

The challenge fund approach will seek to drive collaboration on a “three-partner” basis between education, business, and voluntary and community sectors, ensuring that all projects are embedded in their contexts, developed in line with available evidence, and guided by DfE policy.

There is no maximum number of applications per consortium or organisation.

There is no limit on the number of awards that could be made to one consortium or organisation.

No, as each application will be assessed and scored individually, you should complete a full, separate application form for each area of interest. While this may involve some duplication, it will ensure that all information for the application is assessed.

No.

Under the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund, the term 'education' may include schools.

The challenge fund approach will seek to drive collaboration on a 'three-partner' basis between education, business, and voluntary and community sectors.

However, although DfE is encouraging this collaborative approach, should your organisation wish to apply solely; with one partner; or with two or more partners, please do so.

A business partner could be e.g., an employer, or a council (by way of example only).

Roles will depend on which other bodies they are collaborating with. Applicants are asked to outline how their unique proposal’s collaborative arrangements will be operated.

Disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland are listed on page seven within the NI Assembly's Multiple Deprivation in Northern Ireland 2017 - 2018 paper (PDF, 3MB).

Please see further information on Deprivation 2017 - Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Place - areas of deprivation

DfE will consider applicants’ local evidence within this inclusion cohort, e.g. applicants may provide evidence where there are 'local skills gaps' - areas where skills and qualifications mismatch with local industry.

Yes, a training allowance will be permitted under the fund.

Applicants may also consider bursaries; 'apprentice kits’, or reimbursement of expenses.

No, any training associated with project delivery does not need to be provided by schools, further education colleges, higher education institutes or a private training provider contracted under current apprenticeship provision.

Micro qualifications to upskill potential apprentices, pre-apprenticeship, may be funded through the project.

Yes, applicants may use images or flow-charts within text boxes without impacting the overall requested word count. However, any embedded images or flow charts must clarify/support/link to the existing text rather than develop new themes or proposals.