Amplify 27/28: UK Independent Music Businesses Can Apply for Funded Apprenticeships by 26 November
Amplify opens applications for music-industry employers
Amplify 27/28 opened its employer application window on 15 October 2026 and will close on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The scheme is designed for independent music businesses that want to hire and support an entry-level apprentice for 12 months, rather than for bands seeking recording grants or individual musicians seeking performance bookings.
The programme aims to support six or more independent music businesses across England, including organisations in recording, live events, labels, publishing and music management. Successful employers host paid apprentices aged 18–25, with a focus on opening opportunities to women and people of marginalised genders who face structural barriers to music-industry employment.
Who can apply: employer location and organisational commitments
An applicant must be an independent music business able to offer a proper paid, supervised, full-time apprenticeship for twelve months. Independence means no more than 49% of the business is owned by Warner Music, Sony Music, Universal Music or their affiliates or subsidiaries, under the programme's published definition. Businesses of different sizes and genres may apply; membership of AIM or MMF is not mandatory.
The apprentice must spend at least half their working hours in England, and the employer must have a base or regular working presence there. Applicants need a designated manager and the financial ability to meet the remaining salary and employment costs. A UK business located outside England should therefore check how its working arrangements meet the England-based requirement rather than assuming that UK registration alone is enough.
Funding: what 25% salary support really means
For approved employers, Amplify can contribute up to 25% of an apprentice's basic salary for the 12-month placement. The remainder of the salary, employer National Insurance and pension contributions remain the business's responsibility. The scheme requires the apprentice to be paid at least the relevant Real Living Wage or London Living Wage, rather than treating a placement as an unpaid internship.
The applicant-facing guidance provides indicative May 2026 examples: a London apprentice working 37.5 hours weekly would receive an annualised base salary of £28,860, of which a 25% contribution would equal £7,215. Outside London, its example salary is £26,227.50, with a £6,556.88 contribution. These are illustrative amounts, not automatic awards or guarantees of actual 2027 wages. Eligible employers may separately apply for some additional government apprenticeship assistance and for Round 3 of Arts Council England's Music Growth Fund; other funding is assessed independently and must not be presumed approved.
Training, schedule and recruitment process
Big Creative Education provides fully funded training toward a Level 3 accredited qualification through Amazon Music's apprenticeship levy. The programme also offers recruitment, HR and onboarding guidance plus ongoing check-ins. The selected apprentice would work in an entry-level role with practical administration and operational responsibilities.
The employer information webinar is scheduled for 29 October 2026. Employer applicants are due by 26 November at 11:59 p.m., with decisions expected on 18 February 2027. Apprentice recruitment follows in early 2027, with successful candidates expected to start around mid-May 2027. The initial application is for businesses seeking to host an apprentice; interested young people should follow the later apprentice recruitment announcements instead.
Who runs Amplify and why it is verifiable
Amplify was co-founded by Women in CTRL and Amazon Music in partnership with Big Creative Education, the Association of Independent Music (AIM) and the Music Managers Forum (MMF). Arts Council England supports it via AIM. The partners have established roles in creative training, industry representation and access to music-industry careers, and Big Creative Education publishes detailed employer FAQs, indicative salary budgets, selection criteria and links to the actual application form.
The programme aims to select employers across locations and business types; its published selection framework includes attention to placing roles outside London. These details help employers distinguish the initiative from vague 'free apprentice' offers. Funding is conditional, and a host remains the legal employer responsible for wages and employment obligations.
Before applying and official source
Before you submit, calculate the full twelve-month salary and on-cost budget; confirm your England working presence, line manager and safeguarding/HR capacity; review wage requirements; and check whether the proposed entry-level role qualifies. Do not advertise the placement to applicants as funded in full unless separately approved financing covers the remaining employer liabilities.
Official employer announcement, FAQ, webinar and application link: https://bigcreative.education/amplify/
Information checked against the scheme organisers' primary materials on 18 October 2026. Follow the official page for future changes.