An apprenticeship is paid employment that offers training to help you develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviour on your journey towards your career aspirations, combined with study.
Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
An apprenticeship includes:
Yes. Full-time education does not mean in the classroom, or in a school environment the whole time. It simply means that students need to continue learning and developing at least until they are 18, in whatever way suits them best.
As an apprenticeship combines employment with training and sets you on a path to a relevant and valuable qualification, it counts as sufficient learning for 16-18-year-olds.
The government states that if you want to leave school at 16 you must go on to do one of three things:
Yes, you can have a previous qualification like a degree and still start an apprenticeship.
There are some eligibility checks that will be carried out to ensure you do not have a similar qualification within the subject area but apprenticeships are great to help you upskill or change your career!
The Apprenticeship Levy is an amount paid at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s annual pay bill.
An employer will have to pay Apprenticeship Levy each month if they:
No – you do not need to have any A levels but depending on the level, some apprenticeships may require previous qualifications such as an English or Maths GCSE, however, you will be given extra training and support to bring your Maths and English skills to the right level for your programme.
Some apprenticeships may require previous qualifications such as an English or Maths GCSE, however, you will be given extra training and support to bring your Maths and English skills to the right level for your programme. Contact Key Training to discuss this in more detail if you are unsure whether any Maths or English qualifications are required.
It is a misconception that you do not pay tax, when in actual fact you may, depending on how much you earn. Apprentices, just like standard employees, do have to pay tax so you’ll be assigned a suitable tax code that tells HMRC how much tax you need to pay each month, based on your wage, age and other personal circumstances.
Apprentices should work for a minimum of 30 hours a week, and a maximum of 40. Time spent off the job at a college or in training is included. Part-time apprenticeships can be agreed by your employer, at a minimum of 16 hours per week.
If aged between 16 and 18 or in the first year of the apprenticeship, the apprentice is entitled to the apprentice rate.
If the apprentice is 19 or over and has completed the first year of the apprenticeship, they are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Yes - Apprentices are entitled to the same conditions as other employees in a similar role. A full-time apprentice is entitled to at least 20 days of paid holiday every year. This is in addition to bank holidays like Easter and Christmas. This figure is only the minimum – some employers may give more paid holidays but this will be detailed in your apprenticeship contract.
Apprentices should work for a minimum of 30 hours a week, and a maximum of 40. Time spent off the job at a college or in training is included. Part-time apprenticeships can be agreed by your employer, at a minimum of 16 hours per week.
Apprentices will need to pay National Insurance if they are paid more than £190 per week and are over 16.
There are 2 brackets for minimum wage, depending on your age.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 or in the first year of the apprenticeship, the apprentice is entitled to the apprentice rate.
If the apprentice is 19 or over and has completed the first year of the apprenticeship, they are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Apprentices have exactly the same rights as other employees, which means you are entitled to a contract of employment, and a minimum of 20 days paid leave each year plus bank holidays.
Yes – apprentices are subject to the same terms and conditions of employment as any other employee, which means they can be dismissed from a role in the same way as any other employee, following company polices and procedures for managing performance.
The employer will pay for the work of the apprentice, as they would any other employee.
There are normally 2 options for the end of any apprenticeship. The employer may choose to keep you on as a permanent member of staff, or your contract will be terminated at the end of the apprenticeship agreement. This would be discussed as part of progress reviews with all parties ahead of the completion date of the apprenticeship.
Yes, you can. All apprenticeships have what is called an End Point Assessment (EPA). If you do not get into the gateway period for the EPA, then you will not pass any aspect of the apprenticeship. During EPA, Apprentices who fail one or more assessment method will be offered the opportunity to take a resit or a retake.
Key Training will work with the employer and the apprentice to put in place an action plan that responds to the weaknesses identified from the original EPA result notification. A resit cannot be taken with the intention of increasing the original grade if an apprentice has passed their EPA. Resits are only to be taken in the event of a failure.
You can quit an apprenticeship at whatever stage necessary should you feel the need to do so but we would encourage you to discuss any concerns you might have with Key Training and your employer. Being able to secure funding for another apprenticeship in the future could be a problem but you should only sign up to an apprenticeship if you are confident you will be able to fulfil the full duration of this.
Essentially, leaving or giving notice of your apprenticeship is the same as if you were in a regular job; your contract will state the period of notice you must give your employer if you want to leave, along with any financial implications of doing so.
Interviews for an apprenticeship are usually similar to interviews for any other job. They could be:
To make sure you’re prepared, it is recommend that you:
There’s more interview advice on the National Careers Service website.
Apprenticeships are an exciting paid option for anyone wanting to gain experience, upskill or change career because they offer the chance to earn a wage whilst they work and study.
There are many benefits to completing an apprenticeship, which include:
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