The European Social Fund (ESF) will provide up to 1,025 Apprenticeship Grants to employers in the South East to take on unemployed apprentices aged 16 – 24 years.  The grant is particularly to support small and medium sized employers in the private and third sectors employing no more than 250 full time equivalent staff.  The value of the Grant will be £1,500 and is available now until October 2010.