overview
Apprentices are aged 16 or over and combine working with studying to gain skills and knowledge in a specific job.
Apprentices can be new or current employees.
You can get government funding to cover some of the cost of training and assessing an apprentice if you’re in England.
You must pay the apprentice at least the minimum wage.
Your apprentice must:
- work with experienced staff
- learn job-specific skills
- study during their working week (for example, at a college or training organisation)
whats an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. An apprentice will:
- Work alongside experienced staff
- Gain job-specific skills
- Earn a wage and get holiday pay
- Be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)
get funding
You can get help from the government to pay for apprenticeship training.
The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not. You pay the levy if you’re an employer with a pay bill over £3 million each year.
If you do not need to pay the levy
You pay 5% towards the cost of training and assessing your apprentice. You need to:
- agree a payment schedule with the training organisation
- pay them directly for the training
The government will pay the rest (95%) up to the funding band maximum. They’ll pay it directly to the training organisation.
You could be eligible for extra funding depending on both your and your apprentice’s circumstances.
Apprenticeships that started before 1 April 2019
You contribute 10% towards the cost of training and assessing your apprentice and the Government pays the rest (90%). This rate continues until your apprentice completes their training.
If you pay the levy
You’ll receive funds to spend on training and assessing your apprentices. The government will add 10%.
To find out more about apprenticeship funding, head to the gov website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/apprenticeship-changes
What levels are there?
All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice`s ability and competence in their job role.
Name
Intermediate
Advanced
Higher
Degree
Level
2
3
4, 5, 6 and 7
6 and 7
Equivalent educational level
5 GCSE passes at grade A*– C or 9 – 4
2 A level passes/Level 3 Diploma/ International Baccalaureate
Foundation degree and above
Bachelor’s or master’s degree
how long does an apprenticeship last?
This depends, apprenticeships must last for at least a year. They can last up to 5 years depending on the level the apprentice is studying.