Pubs should not be forced to pay apprenticeship levy, according to the BBPA

The levy is part of the government’s plans to encourage larger firms to take on more apprentices. Money raised from the levy would fund three million new apprenticeships over the next five years.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “Apprenticeships are vital for our industry. We need the new Levy system to provide flexibility to allow the large number of apprenticeships offered in our industry to develop and grow, so we need legislation that encourages this process that is not too burdensome for smaller businesses.

"The potential cost of the Living Wage makes it all the more important that the Government retain a strong focus on tax cuts and other regulatory burdens.”

The BBPA argues that the scheme should only apply to companies with around 250 employees or more to avoid being unfair.

How much the levy will be and which employers will have to pay has yet to be decided.