Traineeships

From 1 August 2023, we will no longer fund a standalone national traineeships programme. Traineeships can continue to be offered by providers locally.

Read the written ministerial statement on the skills update from Robert Halfon, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education.

A traineeship is a work based skills development programme that includes a work placement.

The full programme can last from 6 weeks up to 1 year, though most traineeships last for between 6-weeks and 12-weeks.

Your business needs to be able to offer a safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience placement of at least 70 hours to 240 hours.

You will work with a training provider to design what is included in the programme.

Trainees can gain English, maths, digital and work-related qualifications which can lead them on to:

an apprenticeship
work
further education

1 minute video

Employer cost

Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs.

Some employers may choose to pay the wages and any payments for expenses such as travel and living costs.

Employer responsibilities

Employers need to provide:

a safe, meaningful and high-quality work experience placement
a minimum of 70 hours of work experience placement over the duration of the traineeship (if the trainee claims benefits, the placement cannot last longer than 240 hours)
constructive feedback and advice to the trainee
an interview for an apprenticeship or job in their organisation at the end of the traineeship if one is available
an exit interview at the end of the traineeship with meaningful written feedback if no job is available

Benefits of Traineeships

Traineeships can benefit your business by:

providing a stepping-stone for your future apprentices
allowing you to test out a new position in your business without committing to full time hires
helping your business attract a new generation of talent

Find out how traineeships can benefit your business.

Accelerated Apprenticeships

This scheme can lead to an Accelerated Apprenticeship, which could offer benefits to both the apprentice and the employer.

Apprentices who have some prior knowledge or skills before starting their apprenticeship can have this recognised as prior learning.

This means the apprentice should be able to complete their programme quicker, as training they are already experienced in, can be removed from their training plan, and doesn’t need to be repeated.

This allows employees to complete the scheme in less time and cost to the employer.

Those likely to be able to accelerate their apprenticeships include existing employees using apprenticeships to upskill into more senior roles, and those who have completed another related qualification, for example a T-Level or Skills Bootcamp.

Case studies

Find out how other businesses are using traineeships:

Louise England, General Manager for Specsavers in Hemel and London Colney

30 second video

Michael Johnson, Regional Apprenticeship Manager for Persimmon Homes