Employers will no longer have to pay national insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 years old.

UK forklift firms that employ up to 50 people have been given a new financial incentive to take on an apprentice, according to the UK Chancellor's Autumn Statement.

Besides the existing grant of GBP1,500 (USD2,361), from 1 April 2015, UK employers will no longer be required to pay national insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 years old.

Also, the two bodies responsible for apprentice training in the forklift industry have advised that additional money is available through the industry's Fork Lift Apprentices (FLAT) Fund.

The FLAT Fund was set up by the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) as one of their joint initiatives to attract more young people to the industry. Limited funds can be used to help small and medium enterprises recover travel and accommodation costs and applications can be made to the FLTA at any time.

"We hope that this will encourage employers to enroll a young person in the next intake of forklift apprentices, which will commence in the New Year," says trust chairman John Chappell.

"Engineers are the lifeblood of our industry but, with an ageing workforce, this vital resource is leaving faster than we can replace them ... making it hard for employers to find affordable replacements. As so many companies have found, one very effective answer is to 'grow your own'."

Apprenticeship numbers have been boosted recently by another joint venture between BITA and the FLTA. A single national apprenticeship scheme has been created to consolidate training activities.

The partners are continuing to spread the message that apprenticeships are both affordable and profitable, as Chappell explains: "Smaller firms in particular may be wary of spending money on apprentices - but with the FLAT Fund and a streamlined training scheme, we have removed the barriers to benefiting from young talent.

"It has been well established that the costs of an apprenticeship are soon recouped through the contribution that trainees make. In the short term, they provide an extra pair of hands and, in the longer term, if nurtured, they develop into highly capable and very loyal employees."

According to statistics from the Learning and Skills Council, 74% of companies that employ apprentices find that they stay longer than other staff,and statistics from the National Apprenticeship Service has found that 92% of those employers believe apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.

For more information - including details of how to apply - visit www.fork-truck.org.uk, email accounts@fork-truck.org.uk or phone +44 01635 277577.