Tutor Support, Mark Ellis and Mia Jones have been fantastic.
Carole McPhee
5/5★★★★★
“An agency is paid when someone starts. We are only successful when someone stays, achieves and progresses.”
New for 2026 — School Improvement Programme: a levy-funded Level 6 route for improvement leaders. Find out more
Agency fees, advertising spend and repeated interview rounds absorb budget that should be reaching learners. We source the candidate, match them to the skills gap you actually need to close, place them into your vacancy and train them through a funded apprenticeship. You pay us nothing for the recruitment.
At a glance
£0
Recruitment, advertising and placement fees
100%
Of candidates screened before they reach you
£3,000
Incentives typically available per eligible hire
6 hrs
Protected weekly off-the-job learning in post
What the service is
NCE runs a candidate pipeline of people who want to build a career in education: school leavers, career changers, learning support volunteers, youth workers, early years practitioners and parents returning to work.
Your vacancy is written up, listed on our careers board and promoted to our candidate pool and local networks. There is no advertising cost to you at any point.
Every applicant is checked against your criteria, values and safeguarding expectations before anything reaches your inbox. You only see people worth interviewing.
You interview the shortlist and decide. The hire is always yours, and safer recruitment checks including the DBS stay with you as the employer.
The successful candidate is enrolled onto the matching apprenticeship standard with a Professional Learning Mentor supporting them in role through to End Point Assessment.
“An agency is paid when someone starts. We are only successful when someone stays, achieves and progresses.”
How it works
01
A 45 minute conversation with your headteacher, business manager or HR lead. We look at where you are carrying risk: SEND capacity, safeguarding cover, early years ratios, pastoral provision, curriculum support, succession into middle leadership.
02
We map the vacancy to the right apprenticeship standard and funding band, so the training closes the gap you identified rather than delivering a generic induction.
03
Our recruitment team writes the advert, promotes it and screens applicants for right to work, motivation and suitability before shortlisting.
04
You interview the shortlist and make the hiring decision on your own timeline. We support your safer recruitment process and share our own vetting records.
05
Enrolment, funding paperwork and the first mentor session are all completed before day one, so your new starter arrives ready to work and learn.
Funding and incentives
Training is paid through your levy if you are a levy payer, or through government co-investment if you are not. Non-levy employers hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 24 currently pay nothing towards training, and where a 5% contribution would apply we can often source a levy transfer to cover it in full.
£1,000 for an apprentice aged 16 to 18, or 19 to 24 with an EHCP or care experience. A hiring payment of up to £2,000 for eligible new apprentices aged 16 to 24 from 1 October 2026. No employer National Insurance for apprentices under 25 under the upper threshold. Additional learning support funding where a need is identified.
Retention, safeguarding and quality
Every candidate is screened for right to work and referenced before shortlisting. Safer recruitment checks including the DBS remain your responsibility as the employer, exactly as they would with any appointment, and we never substitute for your statutory duties under Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Once in post, apprentices get six hours a week of protected off-the-job learning, a workplace mentor agreed with you, and progress reviews you are invited to. If something is not working, you hear it from us early rather than at the point of withdrawal.
In their own words
Tutor Support, Mark Ellis and Mia Jones have been fantastic.
I love listening to all of the experts and soaking in their knowledge.
The level of support from SLT tutors, thought-provoking lectures and resources to make you question your everyday practice.
Inspirational NCE team and speakers.
With each new piece of learning, I feel empowered.
High quality tutors, presenters, materials and support.
I love the PLDs, with such high quality speakers and the NCE podcasts.
Excellent range of speakers and superb support from James Potter.
The quality of tutors and lecturers has been a real highlight.
The depth of knowledge and support from many different schools of thought beyond education.
I am learning so much about myself as a leader. Networking with colleagues is great and I am fully supported by the NCE team.
Excellent professional learning days and support from tutors.
Tutor Support, Mark Ellis and Mia Jones have been fantastic.
I love listening to all of the experts and soaking in their knowledge.
The level of support from SLT tutors, thought-provoking lectures and resources to make you question your everyday practice.
Inspirational NCE team and speakers.
With each new piece of learning, I feel empowered.
High quality tutors, presenters, materials and support.
I love the PLDs, with such high quality speakers and the NCE podcasts.
Excellent range of speakers and superb support from James Potter.
The quality of tutors and lecturers has been a real highlight.
The depth of knowledge and support from many different schools of thought beyond education.
I am learning so much about myself as a leader. Networking with colleagues is great and I am fully supported by the NCE team.
Excellent professional learning days and support from tutors.
We will come back with the standard that fits, a funding position, the incentives you would be eligible for and a recruitment timeline. There is no commitment and no cost to have the conversation.
Start a recruitment conversationWe're happy to help. Get in touch with our team. Real people, real answers, no pressure.