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Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are designed by employers to help apprentices gain the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace. 

They are available to new staff and current staff who want to retrain or upskill. 

Apprenticeships are available at different levels, starting from a GCSE equivalent to a university degree equivalent. Training can last from 12 months to 5 years, depending on the level. 

There are over 800 types of apprenticeships across 15 sectors, ranging from finance and accounting to construction. 

Apprenticeships can be progression routes from other courses, for example from Skills Bootcamps or T Levels.

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

You can also contact the apprenticeships team.  

Contact the Employer Support team

Email: employer.enquiries@education.gov.uk

Telephone: 08000 150 400

More resources

Interim Tile - Join the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network

Find out more about the network and becoming an ambassador for apprenticeships.

Interim Tile - Get guidance on developing apprenticeships

See guidance from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on developing apprenticeships.

Interim Tile - Sign up for the employer skills newsletter

Get updates on apprenticeships, T Levels, other skills programmes, policy changes and events.

Interim Tile - Get financial support to offer apprenticeships

Learn more about the financial support available for businesses to offer apprenticeships.


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