Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are available in all sectors and industries throughout England. There are over 190 types of Apprenticeships in a range of industry sectors, from engineering to boat building, veterinary nursing to accountancy.

They generally fall into one of three categories:

• ‘Apprenticeships’ equivalent to GCSE level.
• ‘Advanced Apprenticeships’ equivalent to A-levels.
• ‘Higher Apprenticeships’ – the equivalent to a degree.

No – You can continue on the same Apprenticeship programme. If you are aged 19 and over and change employers after you have completed your first year, you will also be able to receive the national minimum wage.

Yes - You can do an Apprenticeship but you will not be eligible for funding. That means your employer would have to pay your training costs.

The only exception is if you have participated in the New Deal, where you will be eligible for Apprenticeship funding.

Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. As an employee, you can earn as you learn and you gain practical skills from the workplace.

Think about where a qualification could take you in your career - decide on the kind of skills and knowledge that you will need to get ahead. If you are already employed, you may want to talk to your employer or a workmate to help you with this.

For further information and guidance on getting started with your Apprenticeship, contact the National Apprenticeship Service at www.apprenticeships.org.uk or, if you are 13-19 years old, contact the Connexions Direct service by calling 080 800 13219 or visiting www.connexions-direct.com.

An Apprenticeship is essentially a set of qualifications called a ‘framework’ developed by Sector Skills Councils. Most Apprenticeship frameworks follow a standard format that comprises:

• A National Vocational Qualification (Level 2 for Apprenticeships, Level 3 for Advanced Apprenticeships).
• Key Transferable Skills.
• A Technical Certificate.

The learning provider provides the knowledge and develops skills while the employer provides the practical experience to put those skills to the test. Training can be classroom based, in a workshop or in a workplace, depending on the subject and on the learning provider.

The National Apprenticeship Service also runs Apprenticeships vacancies. This is an online system whereby employers and learning providers can advertise and manage vacancies, and potential apprentices can search, apply and then manage their applications for Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships opportunities anywhere in England.

The system is free and available on the Apprenticeships website at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

Getting qualified while on the job can also mean:

• you work better and more effectively
• it can set you up to move into new and better jobs
• you get better pay
• you get to experience new and different challenges
• your existing skills and knowledge are recognised and can help you gain a qualification faster
• you learn at your own pace and get support when you need it
• better job security
• you gain skills and knowledge which can be used across a range of jobs and industries.

Career progression is excellent for apprentices, and over the course of their careers, those with an Apprenticeship earn, on average, £100,000 more than those without.
[A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Apprenticeships and Other Vocational Qualifications, University of Sheffield, 2007]

Some Apprenticeships already attract UCAS points or allow you to study for a Technical Certificate. Once the Apprenticeship has finished there’s the opportunity to carry on working, maybe get promoted or go on to higher education in a college or university.

The National Apprenticeship Service is working with UCAS to extend this system so that more qualifications gained during an Apprenticeship count towards an individual’s university application.

All employed apprentices must receive a wage of £95 per week*. However, as skills develop, many employers tend to increase wages – in fact, research has found that apprentices earn an average of £170 net pay per week.

* Please note that wage rates for roles within the Agricultural sector may differ from the minimum wage stated above.

If you have been made redundant you should contact your training provider who will be able to give you assistance and advice on what happens next.

The employer will give you an induction into the company and your role. They provide on-the-job training and pay your wages. Each apprentice has a manager at work who will be responsible for helping you throughout your training.

Different Apprenticeships have different entry requirements. However the most important requirements are that:

• You must be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.
• You must be aged 16 or over.
• If you took your GCSEs more than five years ago and didn’t gain a top grade (A or A*), or you don’t have good GCSE grades in Maths and English you will need to take a literacy and numeracy test.

An apprentice must be offered a minimum of 16 hours of work per week to complete their Apprenticeship. Generally, however, most apprentices are employed full time.

Aspects of the employment agreement like how many hours an apprentice is expected to work and the breaks to which they are entitled is determined by the employer and the apprentice.

Yes. It’s up to you to choose an employer but learning providers can help you decide.

No. While you are on an Apprenticeship, your employer pays you a salary and supports you whilst you undertake your training. Most of the training is ‘on the job’ within the workplace however the rest can be provided by a local college or by a specialist learning provider or in some cases it could all be undertaken by your employer.

The National Apprenticeship Service will pay the costs of your training depending on your age.

Most apprentices are employed and therefore have the same rights as other employees. To find out more about your rights as an apprentice go to www.worksmart.org.uk.

You can also download a guide to your rights as an apprentice.

An Apprenticeship includes the following components:

• A minimum of 16 hours per week paid employment.
• A knowledge based element.
• A competence based element.
• Transferable or “key skills”.
• A module on employment rights and responsibilities.

The length of an Apprenticeship varies depending on prior skills levels of the apprentice, the qualification being obtained and industry sector. Generally, Apprenticeships take between one and four years to complete.

No.

Yes. If your employer agrees, you can become an apprentice where you work now.

Like most other employees, you will be given at least 20 days’ paid holiday per year as well as bank holidays.

Many different industry sectors share the same skill sets. These core skills are transferable across sectors and are built into the Apprenticeship to maximise flexibility and choice for employers and apprentices. They include:

• Communication (mandatory)
• Application of number (mandatory)
• ICT
• Working with others
• Improving own learning and performance
• Problem solving

The selection process is just like any other job application process. Individuals are put through a series of interviews, and in some cases, tests, to establish if they are the right fit for the role.

You can apply at any time of year. When you begin the work-based training depends upon the availability of a position at an employer.

Yes. Like all employees, apprentices are entitled to statutory Maternity Leave of 52 weeks with statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks.

Yes – employers and providers cannot post vacancies that are not linked to a real post.

You can access our candidate online support guide. This provides step by step help to get the most out of Apprenticeship vacancies.

Access the online support guide »

Yes.

If you are searching for something very specific, or only looking in a small area, it may be that there is no exact match. Try extending your search area or using a more general keyword instead. New vacancies are added every day so try please keep re-visiting the site.

Higher Apprenticeships are Apprenticeshis that work towards a Level 4 work-based learning qualification, and in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a foundation degree.

It is important that the personal details you enter on the system are kept secure and can only be accessed by you. You need to have your own email address as well as your own unique username and password to keep your details safe.

You can register with any valid email address that you use but remember – this is the email address that will appear on any job applications you send, so it must be suitable. Anything that causes offence will be removed. If you have more than one email address it is important to remember which one you have used to register. You will need it if you forget your username or password – these details can only be sent to your registered email address.

Your username has to be unique. If someone else has already registered that username on the system you won’t be able to use it. Try another one – it must be between 8 and 20 characters long. You can use letters and numbers but not spaces. When you have found the one that you will use remember to make a note of it!

First try logging in using your username and password. If your account is activated you will log in successfully. If that doesn’t work, your account may not be activated. If you still have the email with the activation link, try clicking it again. If you don’t have the email you can request another one using the link on the login page. Make sure that the email has not gone into your spam/junk mail folder.

If you continue to have difficulties with activating your account email nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk and they will activate the account for you.

If you can remember either one or the other you can use the links on the login page to get help. If you have forgotten both you will need to send an email to nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk. If possible, use the email address you used to register or tell us what it was.

Explain the problem and make sure that you include your full name, your date of birth and your postcode. The Helpdesk will find your username and send it in an email to the address you used to register. You will then be able to use the link on the login page to get a temporary password.

If you are sure that your username and password are correct but can't login, it will be because you have been de-registered from the system in-line with data protection requirements.

If you are a candidate, it may also be because the system has identified that you have not logged in to the system for a period of 12 months since you registered. In addition, if you have not activated your registration within 30 days of recieving your activation email, this will cause you to be de-registered. All personal details are removed.

If you wish to use the system again, please re-register.

Not necessarily. The new apprentice NMW applies to all 16 to 18 year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their Apprenticeship.

If you reach age 19 and have completed the first year of your Apprenticeship your employer must pay you at least the full NMW rate for those aged 18 to 20.

If you are already 19 and have completed the first year of your Apprenticeship you must be paid at least the NMW rate for your age.

The current exemption will end and the new apprentice NMW will be introduced from the 1st October 2010.

In-kind benefits such as meals, tips and childcare vouchers will not count towards the apprentice NMW. We are looking at deductions for the provision of accommodation and will announce a decision in the summer.

This change applies to those on a publicly supported Apprenticeship programme in the England.

This change also applies to those employed on a contract of Apprenticeship.

An Apprenticeship is a package of work and on and off the job training. It is right that apprentices are paid for all the time they are on the Apprenticeship. That includes training time.

If you are being paid £95 per week in England your employer must continue to pay you at least £95 per week until you become eligible for the full NMW.

The current exemption from the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices will end on 1st October 2010. 

It will be replaced by a NMW for apprentices aged 16 to 18 and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their Apprenticeship. 

The new NMW applies to time working plus time spent on on-the-job and off-the-job training. 

Employers will be free to pay above the new NMW. Many already do so and this change will not affect that.

If you are already 19 or over and have completed the first year of your Apprenticeship you must be paid at least the NMW rate for your age.

Yes if it is study as part of your Apprenticeship.

The rate is set to be consistent with current arrangements in parts of the UK. The Low Pay Commission has recommended a rate that is fair to apprentices and does not discourage employers from offering Apprenticeships. The Government has accepted the rate recommended. The rate is a minimum, employers can pay more – and many do so.

The Low Pay Commission will review the rate in 2011.

The change will apply to all new and existing apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those aged 19 or over in the first year of their Apprenticeship. The change does not affect those apprentices aged 19 or over who have already completed a year of their Apprenticeship – they will continue to be entitled to be paid at least at the full NMW rate appropriate to their age.

Apprentices are those on a contract of Apprenticeship or those on a Government funded Apprenticeship. If you are not in one of these categories your employers must pay you at least the minimum wage appropriate to your age.

This is because only in England have apprentices been entitled to be paid at least £95 per week. The transitional arrangements protect the small number of people who might have been worse off under the new arrangements. There were no similar arrangements in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

The Apprentice National Minimum Wage will be £2.50 per hour.

There is no reason for your employer to cut your pay. It is a minimum below which you should not be paid – it is not a standard rate, nor rate for all Apprenticeships.

The NMW only applies to employees who are paid. Those on Government funded programmes who are unwaged are not entitled to the NMW or the apprentice minimum wage.

The NMW is based on hourly rates. The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation of a minimum hourly rate. This will mean a simpler single system for employers.