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Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment

The Licensing Act 2003 affects anyone who is concerned with:

Licensing

Worcestershire Regulatory Services undertakes the Licensing function on behalf of Wychavon District Council. View Worcestershire Regulatory Services website. 

It is responsible for the administration, regulation and enforcement of the majority of licences for which the council is responsible.

For information or advice on all licensing matters contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01905 822799.

Use the links below to find information about licensing:

Apprenticeships

In this section

Use the links below to find the information you need:

Advice and support applying for jobs

If you are looking for work then there are many different organisations offering help and support. 

The Skills for Worcestershire website has lots of information on it from CV writing to interview technique.

Support on training and finding work is also available from the National Careers Service.

If you are on Universal Credit you can get access to support from your work coach or Job Centre Plus staff.

About apprenticeships

Anyone from 16 to 116 can start an apprenticeship.

There are many benefits to choosing an apprenticeship. It is a good way to get into work and gain a qualification at the same time. You will also earn money while you are learning so you can avoid getting into university debt.

Apprenticeships are available in lots of different sectors, from agriculture and construction to law, engineering or media.

Webinars:

Levels of apprenticeship

There are four different levels of apprenticeship.

  • Level 2 Intermediate - equivalent to five good GCSE passes.
  • Level 3 Advanced - equivalent to two A-level passes.
  • Level 4 Higher - equivalent to the first stages of higher education, such as a foundation degree.
  • Level 5/7 Degree - comparable to a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

Pay for apprentices

There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on your age and what year of your apprenticeship you’re in. 

Aged 16 to 18

The current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £8 per hour.

Aged 19 or over and in their first year

The current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £8 per hour.

Aged 19 or over and have completed their first year

Apprentices will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age.

You will also be entitled to sick pay, any additional benefits your employer offers to its other employees, such as healthcare plans and childcare vouchers, and at least 20 days of paid holiday a year.

Apprenticeship case studies

If you still need convincing that apprenticeships could be worth considering then watch our case studies below:

pdf Apprenticeship Case Study - HIVE Business Support (1.08 MB)

Read more about the experience of apprentices on the Not going to Uni website.

Claim help with the cost of your apprenticeship

Apprentice Bursary

Wychavon District Council bursaries of up to £500 are available through Worcestershire Apprenticeships.

Worcestershire Apprenticeships Bursary

Worcestershire Apprenticeships have launched their new support system for those seeking apprenticeships. Users are able to complete an online submission form about the type of apprenticeship they are interested in. This information can then be shared with the relevant local training providers, who in turn will contact the individual to support them to become an apprentice. Read more information about the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Account on the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website.

If you secure an apprenticeship through your Worcestershire Apprenticeships account you will be eligible to claim an incentive payment of up to £250 as well as expenses to help with things like travel and uniform costs. Find out more information about the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Bursary on the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website.

King's Trust Development Awards: Small Grants for Young People Aged 16 – 30

The King's Trust Development Awards programme provides small grants for young people aged 16 - 30 to help them access education, training and employment. They can offer £150, which you do not have to pay back. And up to around £500.

Find out more: Free funding to train or start work 

Current apprenticeship vacancies

You can also find apprenticeship vacancies elsewhere in England by using the national find an apprenticeship search. View find apprenticeship website.

Other types of training

Apprenticeships are not the only way you can access training and improve your skills. Some other options are listed below.

Traineeships

Traineeships help get you ready for work or an apprenticeship. A traineeship is 70 hours long and can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, though most traineeships last for less than 6 months. They can help develop your English, maths and digital skills.

While you won’t get paid for a traineeship, you might be given expenses for travel and food.

A traineeship can give you 70 hours work experience, give you the skills you need to get your apprenticeship, help you with your CV, and give you some feedback from an employer. You will not have an employment contract as it is not a job.

To find out more about traineeships in our area contact Whitehead Ross on 07404 895438 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Free qualifications for adults 19 and over

If you are aged 19 and over and do not already have a Level 3 qualification, equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma or A levels, you can study for a free qualification.

Read about qualification levels on GOV.UK

Qualifications are available in the following sectors:

  • accounting and finance
  • agriculture
  • building and construction
  • business management
  • childcare and early years
  • digital
  • engineering
  • environmental conservation
  • health and social care
  • horticulture and forestry
  • manufacturing technologies
  • mathematics and statistics
  • medicine and dentistry
  • public services
  • science
  • teaching and lecturing
  • transportation operations and maintenance
  • warehousing and distribution

Some of these qualifications are available to study online or part-time. In some instances, you may need to meet admissions criteria for the course you chose to apply for. For example, you may need to have studied a particular subject before at a lower level.

To apply you will need to contact the college you wish to study at.

Read more …Apprenticeships

Business Rates

Business rates are paid by occupiers of most business properties to local councils, for the contribution to the costs of local services.

If you have had a change in your circumstances which will impact your Business Rates account, please advise us by completing our online Change in Circumstances form

See the information below for help paying your bill.

Log into Open Portal (Previously Self Service) - Pay your Business Rates bill, tell us about a change of address and view your paperless e-billing. 

View our Appeals page - If you are not happy with a decision made about your rateable value or your liability to pay a bill.

Find out how to pay - Options to pay your business rates

Learn about business rates relief - Your property may be eligible for discounts from the local council on your business rates.

Find out how to contact us - Get in touch with us to discuss business rates.

Background

  • Business Rates were introduced on 1 April 1990 at which time all Business premises were valued and their Rateable Values were entered into a local rating list.
  • The Business Rate legislation allows for business properties to be revalued regularly . This is called a revaluation. The last revaluation took place on 1 April 2023.
  • The new revaluation takes effect from 1 April 2026.

Calculation of business rates

  • The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) (an agency of HM Revenues and Customs) sets the rateable value of business premises. The rateable value is shown on the front of the bill. The amount represents the annual rent that the property could be let for in the open market, on a particular date.
  • The rateable value and the business rating multiplier (set by central government) is used to calculate your business rates bill (see multiplier table, below). If your rateable value is lower than £51,00 use the small business multiplier.
Year Standard multiplier Small business multiplier
2025 to 2026 55.5p 49.9p
2024 to 2025 54.6p 49.9p
2023 to 2024 51.2p 49.9p
2022 to 2023 51.2p 49.9p
2021 to 2022 51.2p 49.9p
2020 to 2021 51.2p 49.9p
2019 to 2020 50.4p 49.1p
2018 to 2019 49.3p 48.0p
2017 to 2018 47.9p 46.6p
2016 to 2017 49.7p 48.4p

Sign up for e-billing

We can send your Business Rates bills to you by email instead of through the post. See below for details.

The benefits of e-Billing

  • You will receive your bill as soon as it is available
  • It saves paper so is better for the environment
  • It helps to reduce council spending by saving printing and postage costs
  • You still have the option to print your bill or forward a copy to someone if you need to.

How to sign up for e-Billing

There are three ways to sign up for e-Billing:

  • Send an email from the address you would like us to use with ‘Yes to e-Billing’ in the subject line and include your name and council tax account number (on your bill) or your address. Send your email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can register for our online Self Service account facility which includes e-Billing sign up and lets you view full details of your account
  • Or you can call 03004 560 560 and ask to sign up for e-Billing.

What happens next?

  • Once you have signed up for e-billing we will send future council tax bills to you by email unless you ask us to stop
  • You must tell us if you change your email address
  • We will contact you if our emails to you cannot be delivered because your email address is invalid.

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