Medr/2026/01: Employer Incentive Scheme – Disabled Apprentices  and Additional Learning Support for apprenticeships in Wales: funding allocations for financial year 2025/26

Introduction

1. This publication provides information on the apprenticeship EIS/ALS merged scheme funding for the financial year 2025-26, including the allocation of £600,000 total funding to CCHs and sets out the criteria they and apprentices will need to meet in order to be eligible for funding. Funding letters have also been issued separately to CCHs in receipt of funding.

2. Medr’s apprenticeship EIS and ALS funding is provided to support employers to provide opportunities for disabled apprentices and for training providers to support the additional learning needs of apprentices.

3. Providers are encouraged to advertise the funding available to support employers, learners and other stakeholders to maximise the number of disabled apprentices who are able to benefit and subsequently enrol on an apprenticeship programme.

Funding approach

4. Medr has identified strategic priorities for funding in FY 2025-26 that take account of equality data showing where outcomes could be enhanced and to make best use of available budget.

5. Apprenticeship EIS/ALS funding priorities for FY 2025-26 are:

• Disabled apprentices;
• Apprentices with additional learning needs.

6. The funding arrangements are as follows:

• Funding will be allocated based on apprenticeship main contract percentage values for 2025/2026.
• Eligibility, funding processes and values are shown in the Apprenticeship Commissioning Programme Wales Framework.

Funding in FY 2025-26

7. The apprenticeship EIS/ALS budget for FY 2025-26, from 1 November 2025 – 31 March 2026, is £600,000; allocations can be used flexibly across both EIS and ALS up to the maximum funding allocated to each provider for the merged scheme.

Funding allocations 2025/26

8. Total funding available for 1 November 2025 – 31 March 2026 is £600,000. This is allocated as follows:

Provider	Total funding (£)
Associated Community Training Ltd	109,860
Cambrian Training	33,660
Cardiff and Vale College	56,040
Coleg Cambria	52,980
Educ8 Training Group Ltd	51,600
Gower College Swansea	40,560
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai	53,100
ITEC Training Solutions	31,800
Neath Port Talbot College	76,440
Pembrokeshire College	93,960
Total	600,000

Requirements and payment of funding

9. Full details of how payment  will be made and the requirements of the EIS/ALS merged scheme are shown in the  Apprenticeship Commissioning Programme Wales Framework.

Monitoring funding

10. CCH claims against the allocated funding will be monitored on a quarterly basis and if required funding may be reallocated to take account of individual CCH actual and forecast claims.

Conditions of funding

11. The Apprenticeship Commissioning Programme Wales framework Specification forms part of the Agreement for the delivery and funding of Apprenticeships and sets out certain requirements that must be adhered to in the delivery of the apprenticeship programme.

Promoting apprenticeships

12. We expect CCHs to promote these opportunities to a range of learners, particularly those with a disability and/or an additional learning needs.

13. There is an expectation that apprenticeship CCHs will participate in:

• Medr marketing activities and national campaigns;
• Skill competitions such as World Skills. These competitions provide apprentices with additional experiences and challenges that will serve them well in their careers. Additionally they provide opportunities to demonstrate the strength of Wales’s tertiary education sector through national and international competitions. Further information is available from WorldSkills UK.

Assessing the impact of our policies

14. We carry out an impact assessment screening to help safeguard against discrimination and promote equality. We also considered the impact of policies on the Welsh language and Welsh language apprenticeship provision in Wales and potential impacts towards the goals set out in the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 including our Well-Being Objectives. Contact [email protected] for more information about impact assessments. Providers are responsible for reviewing their own impact assessments in relation to apprenticeships.

15. For all enquiries please contact Kelly Hillard or Ceri Sullivan ([email protected]).