A new initiative entitled Apprenticeship Grants for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds (AGE 16 and 17) is being rolled out by the Government. Grants worth up to £2,500 each are being made available to business owners who take on young people. The short-term initiative is designed to encourage employers to take on unemployed 16 and 17 year olds. It is available immediately and finishes at the end of March 2010. Employers will receive the grant in two stages; they get £1,500 when the worker starts their apprenticeship and £1,000 after 12 weeks.