Find out more about the network and becoming an ambassador for apprenticeships.
Benefits for your business
Apprenticeships can support your business to grow talent and develop a skilled workforce.
Offering an apprenticeship can:
- introduce fresh talent and ideas to your business by recruiting new staff and upskilling existing members
- align training to your business needs
- boost staff loyalty and motivation
Studies show that because of apprenticeships:
- 80% of employers report higher staff retention
- 92% of employers see a boost in workforce motivation and satisfaction
The St Martin’s Group study on the benefits of apprenticeships found, that despite associated costs, UK employers see an average annual gain of £2,500 to £18,000 in output per apprentice during their training period.
Employer stories
This video is 1 minute long
Video Transcript
My name is Tony Spence, I’m the Deputy Head of Yorkshire Ambulance Service Academy.
The apprenticeship scheme means you can recruit and develop your workforce using a very structured system, that’s cost effective and just about all of our apprentices have found full time permanent employment with the Trust.
My name is Saira, HAD & CO is a female led architectural practice. I struggled as a female in the architecture and construction industry, so it’s really important that young people come in and they have that opportunity.
It’s different to normal employment, apprentices have the motivation to finish the apprenticeship, because they have a qualification to look forward to at the end of it.
My name’s Caroline Ash, I’m the Production Director here at Fashion Enter.
So, our business has struggled, because there is a real skills shortage in the fashion industry, so apprenticeships are perfect for us, because we are training them to work they way that we want them to work and they can give back more or less immediately.
When I was an apprentice, I got to learn from a lot of different people throughout the company and you wouldn’t get that at university.
I can work my way up the career ladder and build up a good bank of knowledge and experience.
Being an apprentice is a fast track to the professional world.
I always have believed that if you invest in people, they invest in your business.
Case studies
Find out how other businesses are using apprenticeships:
Caroline Ash, production director at Fashion Enter
30 second video
Video Transcript
My name’s Caroline Ash, I’m the production director here at Fashion Enter. The employment scheme that we use is apprenticeships. So our business has struggled.
There is a real skills shortage in the fashion industry, so apprenticeships are perfect for us, because we're training them to work the way that we want them to work.
Our apprenticeships have improved productivity, because they’re learning on the job and they can give back more or less immediately. So I definitely would recommend these training schemes. We have a large amount of apprentices ourselves. We know they work really well.
Saira, HAD& CO a female led architectural practice
Saira, HAD& CO a female led architectural practice
30 second video
Video Transcript
My name’s Saira, HAD & CO is a female led architectural practice.
We use the apprenticeship scheme. The biggest benefit that these programmes have brought to the business is a young person comes in, they learn on the job and they have a qualification to look forward to at the end of it.
I did a degree, had I known about the apprenticeship scheme I think would have benefitted massively. I would recommend the apprenticeship scheme to other businesses, because apprentices have the motivation to finish the apprenticeship.
Always have believed, that if you invest in people, they invest in your business.
Tony Spence, Deputy Head of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Academy
Tony Spence, Deputy Head of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Academy
30 second video
Video Transcript
My name is Tony Spence, I’m the Deputy Head of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Academy.
We have a broad range of apprenticeships and just about all of our apprentices have found full time permanent employment with the trust.
When apprentices start with us as ambulance support workers they spend ten weeks in the academy, before then going out into frontline operational duties.
I considered going back to university, but I can work my way up the career ladder.
We’ve managed to recruit a large number of new staff and for them to develop onto a really worthwhile career pathway.
Cost
You must pay the apprentice minimum wage.
Your training costs could be partly covered depending on your business size and the age of the apprentice. You could receive a government contribution of up to 100%.
Calculate your estimated training cost funding.
Additional payments
You could receive additional payments of £1,000 for recruiting:
- 16 to 18 year olds
- 19 to 25 year olds who have an education, health and care plan
- 19 to 25 year olds who have been in local authority care
Your responsibilities
As an apprenticeship employer, you must provide:
- an employment contract for the duration of the apprenticeship
- on-the-job training
- mentoring and supervision
- an induction that covers business policies, procedures, and a safe working environment
- a signed apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement from the apprentice and the training provider, such as a local college
Find out more
Read the step-by-step guide on employing an apprentice for your business, or you can sign up for emails about taking on your first apprentice.
You can also contact the apprenticeships team.
Contact the Employer Support team
Email: employer.enquiries@education.gov.uk
Telephone: 08000 150 400
Explore schemes
- Apprenticeships
- T Levels: industry placements
- Skills Bootcamps
- Multiply
- Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
- Free courses and additional free training
- Care Leaver Covenant
- Supported internships for learners with an education, health and care plan
- Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
- Employing prisoners and prison leavers
More resources
See guidance from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on developing apprenticeships (IfATE).
Get updates on apprenticeships, T Levels, other skills programmes, policy changes and events.
Learn more about the financial support available for businesses to offer apprenticeships.