Funding of clergy training through the Apprenticeship Levy
In his Autumn Statement on 25 November 2015, the Chancellor announced the introduction of legislation for the charging of an Apprenticeship Levy (“the Levy”) on employers in all sectors whose annual pay bills exceed £3M, with a view to assisting the delivery of new apprenticeships. The legislation was introduced in Part 6 of the Finance Act 2016 and became effective on 6 April 2017. The Church of England expressed interest in the Levy and on 5 May 2016, in response to a question by Mark Spencer (Sherwood) (Con) [HC Hansard, 5 May 2016, Vol 609, Col 307], Caroline Spelman, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, said: Continue reading