What is the Employer Support Fund (ESF)?
The government recently created the Employer Support Fund (ESF) to support the essential costs incurred by employers providing work placements for students completing T levels.
The funding allocated to the college through the ESF is quite limited but we recognise that for some employers this support could really help. The fund is currently available up until 31 March 2026.
The funding available is roughly £50 per student on average. We recognise that some employers will need little or no financial support to facilitate work placements, whilst others may need a little more.
What can the Employer Support Fund be used to support?
Examples of eligible costs include:
Administrative costs, such as setting up:
- processes and procedures
- organisational systems
- a physical workspace to support delivery
Tangible costs, such as:
- equipment
- insurance
- security passes
- software licensing
- employer transport costs
- materials and supplies directly related to the industry placement
- training, such as specialised courses or certifications for students, or any necessary training required by the employer to support the placement – for example, safeguarding courses for staff
Placement providers are required to provide receipts to support all claims.
How do work placement providers submit claims and receipts and how will payments be made?
Employers need to complete and return to us the ‘T Level Placement Provider Form’ – this ensures that we have your bank details so that we can make payments for successful claims.
Secondly, employers need to complete and return to us the ‘T Level ESF employer declaration form’ detailing claims. Receipts must be included for any items you are wishing to be considered for reimbursement.
Please send both forms and an electronic copy all of receipts to finance@nclt.ac.uk
What are the deadlines for claims and when will successful claims be processed and paid?
Please submit claims to finance@nclt.ac.uk by 4pm on the dates indicated below in order to receive payments by the identified payment dates.
| Claim and all receipts to be received by finance@nclt.ac.uk : | Payments made to provider for approved claims |
| 23rd November 2025 | 15th January 2026 |
| 24th January 2026 | 15th March 2026 |
| 24th March 2026 | 15th May 2026 |
How will we consider claims that are made?
When considering claims submitted by employers, colleges will take into consideration issues such as those listed below to determine whether individual claims are successful:
- Whether the costs being claimed for are eligible under the DfE guidance
- The size of the claim
- The funding remaining at the time from the overall funds allocated
- Whether the provider has made other claims previously, and the size of those claims
- In some circumstances, the specific context or exceptional needs of the individual placement provider or the student concerned, particularly for larger claims
The college will notify placement providers whether claims submitted have been successful.
Successful claims will be relayed by the college to the DfE for consideration, approval and to secure payment.
Full government guidance about ESF is available here
