Apprenticeship Funding Calculator
Whether you're a levy payer or not, see how much funding you can access, and how many AI apprenticeship programmes you can fund across AI, data, and leadership
Your Annual Pay Bill
Ready to Use Your Levy?
Book a free discovery call and we'll show you exactly how to deploy your levy on AI, data, and leadership apprenticeships, before it expires.
Book a Discovery Call →Two products. Two funding rules. Both fully funded for the right path.
TESS Group offers two distinct kinds of AI training. They use different government funding rules — both legitimate, both well-established. Here’s what your CFO needs to see.
L3 / L4 / L5 / L6 / L7 apprenticeship programmes
12–24 month full apprenticeship programmes (e.g. AI & Automation Practitioner L4, AI Leadership L5).
- Levy payers (£3m+ paybill): drawn directly from your Apprenticeship Levy digital account.
- SMEs / non-levy: 95% government-funded, 5% employer co-investment.
Level 5 AI Units (AU0009 / AU0010 / AU0011)
30-hour Skills England units, £750/unit — AI Strategy & Opportunity, AI Adoption & Governance, AI Delivery & Transformation.
- Levy payers: drawn directly from your Apprenticeship Levy digital account.
- SMEs / non-levy: 100% government-funded — no co-investment, no 5%, nothing to find from your budget.
Common Questions
How is the apprenticeship levy calculated?
The levy is 0.5% of your total annual pay bill. Every employer gets a £15,000 annual allowance, so you only start paying when your payroll exceeds £3 million. The levy is collected monthly via PAYE.
What if I don't use my levy?
From April 2026, unused funds expire after just 12 months on a first-in, first-out basis (previously 24 months). The money simply disappears. The government has also removed the 10% top-up on levy contributions. AI and data apprenticeships are among the highest-value ways to use your levy before it expires.
Can I use my levy for existing employees?
Yes. Apprenticeships aren't just for new hires. You can enrol existing employees at any age on programmes like the Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner. This is often the most impactful use of your levy.
We're not a levy payer. Can we still access funding?
Yes. Enter a payroll under £3 million above and you'll see the non-levy calculator with your 5% contribution for each programme. The government pays 95%, you'd typically pay just £350–£1,100 for a full 18–24 month AI programme. For employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on 16–18 year olds, it's 100% funded.
Want to understand the full picture?
Our in-depth guide covers everything from levy transfers and funding bands to the April 2026 changes, incentive payments, and how to check your Digital Apprenticeship Service balance.
Read: Apprenticeship Levy Explained →