Small businesses who employ apprentice’s or trainee’s may be eligible for a wage subsidy of 50%.

The government’s JobTrainer package is providing support for businesses to keep their apprentices and trainees.

Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of an eligible apprentice or trainee’s wages paid until 31 March 2021.

A small business may be eligible if:

• You employ fewer than 20 people

• you are a small business with fewer than 20 people, using a Group Training Organisation
• the apprentice or trainee was undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship with you on 1 July 2020 for claims after this date.

A medium-sized business may be eligible if:

• you employ few than 200 people; or
• you are a medium business with few than 200 people, using a Group Training Organisation; and
• the apprentice or trainee was undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship with you on 1 July 2020

Any employer who re-engages an apprentice or trainee displaced from an eligible small or medium business may also be eligible for the subsidy.

Businesses are not required to demonstrate a ‘fall in turnover’.

Claims from small and medium business are now open.  Final claims for payment must be lodged by 30 June 2021. 

For further information on how to apply for the subsidy, including information on eligibility, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider