You employ the apprentice. Lomax provides gas and utility training, progress reviews and assessment preparation.
100%apprentice pass rate
Employers hire apprentices. Lomax provides the training.
You employ. Lomax trains.
Develop a new recruit or upskill an existing employee through gas engineering or utility network operative apprenticeship training. Your business provides paid employment and workplace experience. Lomax delivers the qualification, reviews progress and prepares the apprentice for independent assessment.
Your responsibilities
Provide an employment contract, appropriate wages and normal employment rights, including holiday and sick pay.
Offer a safe workplace and meaningful work linked to the apprenticeship standard.
Appoint a workplace mentor or supervisor.
Allow paid time for training and support learning.
Keep training records and review progress with Lomax.
What Lomax provides
Help to select the appropriate apprenticeship programme.
A training plan agreed with you and your apprentice.
Technical and practical teaching.
Progress reviews and support throughout the programme.
Preparation for the independent end-point assessment.
How to get started
Discuss your requirements
Tell us about the role, your business and the person you wish to train. We will check programme suitability and funding eligibility.
Agree the arrangements
You hire the apprentice and agree the employment terms. We work with you on the apprenticeship agreement, training plan and apprenticeship service arrangements.
Support their progress
Provide work experience and paid training time. Lomax teaches, monitors progress and supports assessment preparation.
Apprenticeship funding and incentives
Funding and incentive support depends on your apprentice’s age, start date and your circumstances. The following options apply in England.
£2,000 hiring payment
For non-levy employers recruiting a new apprentice aged 16–24 whose apprenticeship starts from 1 October 2026. Their job must start no more than 90 days before training begins. Eligible 15-year-olds turning 16 between the last Friday in June and 31 August are also covered.
Claim: Lomax checks eligibility and claims through the training-provider process; there is no separate employer application. Two £1,000 instalments are normally due at 90 days and one year, while the apprentice remains employed. A shorter eligible programme may use day 242 for the second payment.
For an apprentice aged 16–18 at the start, or aged 19–24 with an Education, Health and Care plan or care-leaver status. The eligible school-leaver exception can also apply.
Claim: give Lomax the necessary eligibility evidence. We claim and pass the payment to you, usually as £500 after 90 days and £500 after one year. Programme-length rules can change the second payment date. Consent is needed where an adult apprentice’s care-leaver status or EHC plan is shared with the employer.
For an eligible new recruit aged 18–24 who has been out of work and claiming Universal Credit for at least six months. The job must be registered with the scheme and meet its hours, pay and duration conditions. The employer must trade in Great Britain, be HMRC registered and have traded for at least six months.
Claim: the employer applies directly through the government scheme. Lomax cannot apply for you. DWP pays £1,800 after six weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks once employment and earnings are verified. An eligible apprenticeship may also qualify for other payments.
From 1 August 2026, eligible new apprenticeship starts aged 16–24 with non-levy employers have training and assessment funded up to the funding-band maximum. Support also applies to eligible under-25 starts where a levy employer has insufficient funds. For non-levy employers training apprentices aged 25+, the usual contribution is 5%, subject to exemptions and funding limits.
Employers may also receive National Insurance relief on eligible apprentice earnings below age 25. Confirm the relevant payroll conditions with HMRC.
Contact us before budgeting for support. Eligibility, continued employment and the rules for your apprenticeship’s start date determine what can be paid.
Government employer guidance
Use the official guidance for employment responsibilities, apprenticeship service accounts, funding and payments.
