Is an apprenticeship scheme proper for your corporation, and the place do you start? Crissi Williams, CEO of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals, seems into the matter
- An apprenticeship scheme is a mixture of examine and work for individuals over the age of 16. The scheme is meant to equip apprentices with the talents and data for a selected job or business. Companies, no matter measurement, can recruit an apprentice.
- Begin by deciding what sort of apprenticeship you wish to supply, then have a look at your funding choices, create an account and set your settlement and coaching templates.
- Ensure you take the authorized facet into consideration, resembling guaranteeing your apprentices are paid appropriately.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a lift on your small enterprise, take into account an apprenticeship scheme.
As soon as solely the area of massive companies, apprenticeships at the moment are a reputable possibility for a lot of small companies on the lookout for an economical strategy to recruit recent expertise. Nevertheless, many enterprise homeowners are delay by the perceived quantity of administration required to get began. Is an apprenticeship scheme proper for your corporation, and the place do you start?
What’s an apprenticeship scheme?
An apprenticeship scheme is a mixture of examine and work for individuals over the age of 16. The scheme is meant to equip apprentices with the talents and data for a selected job or business. Companies, no matter measurement, can recruit an apprentice. The period of their apprenticeship can vary from 12 months to 5 years, relying on their degree.
In accordance with the Home of Commons, there have been 761,500 individuals collaborating in an apprenticeship in England within the 2024/25 tutorial 12 months, a rise on the earlier tutorial 12 months.
Think about the advantages
Hiring an apprentice is a long-term funding, and lots of organisations we work with see it as a really perfect alternative to create a workforce skilled from scratch – shaping worker’s work habits from the offset and aligning them with firm tradition.
The Nationwide Apprenticeship Service says that the estimated achieve for employers is between £2,500 and £18,000 per apprentice. Apprentice employers have additionally seen elevated productiveness of their present workforce and apprenticeships are a good way to plug a widening expertise hole in our business.
See additionally: Apprenticeship grants – A information to what help and funding is obtainable from the federal government
Steve Hayden, managing director of Inexperienced Telecom, has seen the advantages along with his enterprise. He began as an apprentice himself and has now employed two apprentices over a three-year interval: “An apprentice is an asset to a small enterprise, they bring about recent concepts to the desk and may be skilled to slot in with the corporate.”
Find out how to rent an apprentice
Let’s take it step-by-step.
What do you wish to supply?
Resolve on the extent of apprenticeship you wish to supply. Apprenticeships are divided into totally different ranges so it’s necessary to determine which one is most fitted for your corporation:
- Intermediate: degree 2 (GSCE)
- Superior: degree 3 (equal to 2 A Degree passes)
- Greater: degree 4,5,6 and seven (basis diploma and above)
- Diploma: degree 6 and seven (Bachelor’s or Grasp’s diploma)
The Nationwide Apprenticeship Service has a number of helpful recommendation on which degree it’s best to take into account on its web site. It’s necessary to notice that, from January 2026, funding was faraway from new degree 7 apprenticeships for the over 22s. Current apprentices and people aged 16-21 will nonetheless be funded.
Basis apprenticeships are additionally out there. They’re at degree 2 and assist individuals to get began in an business, resembling development, digital, engineering and social care. Apprentices will likely be skilled for a variety of jobs inside that sector, alongside ‘comfortable expertise’ like communication and responding to suggestions. The quantity of coaching they get will depend on the apprenticeship they’re doing, however they sometimes final for eight months.
Anybody aged 16-21 can do a basis apprenticeship. They’re additionally open to individuals aged 22-24 in the event that they’re:
- A care leaver
- A prisoner or on prisoner depart
- Have an training, well being and care plan
Lastly, apprenticeship items give workers the possibility to do quick and versatile programs that may give them the data and expertise that your small enterprise wants. Although they’re not formal apprenticeships, they’re primarily based on apprenticeships and are primarily based on sectors the place there are expertise shortages in England, resembling AI and development. They have to give you the results you want, be over 19 and spend over half of their working hours in England.
For various components of the UK, try the hyperlinks under:
As your apprentice will likely be studying on the job, a proportion of their time is taken up with coaching. You will want to discover a coaching supplier to work alongside to ship your apprenticeship scheme. You could find this on the federal government web site.
Verify what funding is obtainable
If you happen to don’t pay the apprenticeship levy, the federal government pays 100% of the price (as much as the funding band most) on the coaching of an apprentice if they’re:
- 16-24 years outdated
- Aged 15 (if the apprentice’s sixteenth birthday is between the final Friday of June and August 31)
For all different apprentices, it’ll be a 5% value from you, with the remaining lined by the federal government. From October 1, 2026, you might be eligible to obtain a hiring cost of as much as £2,000 when hiring apprentices aged 16-24.
Your native council could properly supply further native help. Verify their web site for any additional particulars.
Create an account to fund and recruit apprentices
Create an account on the federal government web site to promote apprenticeships and provides entry permissions to related individuals inside and out of doors your organisation. Use it so as to add particulars about your organization, your PAYE scheme and your apprentices.
Recruitment
The federal government’s apprenticeships service gives a portal by which to promote vacancies to its large database and that is one of the best place to promote your emptiness. You can too use the standard promoting channels, resembling job boards and LinkedIn. Now we have discovered the easiest way to recruit apprentices is thru evaluation days. By a sequence of duties, set all through the day, you possibly can observe the candidates in a relaxed setting previous to a proper interview.
Make an apprenticeship settlement
The apprenticeship settlement particulars the ability, commerce or occupation that the apprentice will likely be coaching for; the title of the apprenticeship they’re working in the direction of; the beginning and finish dates of the apprenticeships; and the quantity of coaching you’ll give them. Both write your personal or use an apprenticeship settlement template.
On high of that’ you must signal a coaching plan along with your apprentice. Once more, mock this up your self or use a template. It should embody:
- The deliberate content material and schedule for coaching
- What is anticipated and what’s provided by the employer, coaching supplier and the apprentice
- Find out how to deal with queries and complaints
If you wish to scale back coaching time as a result of the apprentice already has related coaching or expertise, it’s essential to agree this with the coaching supplier and the apprentice within the preliminary levels.
This won’t solely guarantee your apprentice will get essentially the most from their expertise, however that you’re coaching somebody to match the precise wants of your small enterprise.
Authorized points to think about
As an employer, it’s your duty to attract up an apprenticeship settlement between your corporation and your worker.
There are different elements you additionally want to recollect:
– You will need to pay your apprentice a minimum of the Apprenticeship Nationwide Minimal Wage. For the 2026/27 tax 12 months, apprentices are entitled to the Apprentice Fee in the event that they’re both:
- Underneath 19
- Aged 19 and over and of their first 12 months of apprenticeship
Apprentices are entitled to the Minimal Wage for his or her age if they’re each:
- Aged over 19
- Have accomplished the primary 12 months of their apprenticeship
Nevertheless, many companies select to pay a better wage than this.
– The minimal period of apprenticeships is 30 hours per week so far as the federal government is anxious. Apprentices working below 30 hours per week will nonetheless be thought-about apprentices, however their coaching will likely be over an extended interval.
– You will need to be certain that all apprentices obtain the identical advantages as your different workers.
Do not forget that even if you happen to’ve solely taken on apprentices, you’ll nonetheless want employers’ legal responsibility insurance coverage. Learn extra at Employers’ legal responsibility insurance coverage – what’s it and do you want it?
FAQ
What’s an apprenticeship scheme?
An apprenticeship scheme is a mixture of examine and work for individuals over the age of 16. The scheme is meant to equip apprentices with the talents and data for a selected job or business. Companies, no matter measurement, can recruit an apprentice.
How do I begin an apprenticeship scheme?
Begin by deciding what sort of apprenticeship you wish to supply, then have a look at your funding choices, create an account and set your settlement and coaching templates.
Crissi Williams is CEO of the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals.
Additional studying on apprenticeships
Why hiring apprentices advantages SMEs – Right here, Angela Middleton, founder and CEO of MiddletonMurray, highlights the advantages that apprenticeships can deliver to your corporation
Over third of companies struggling to fill jobs – Small Enterprise UK – There at the moment are 1.3m job vacancies within the UK, the identical quantity as there are unemployed staff, leaving companies with holes within the workforce
Euan Blair agency to coach 5,000 SME apprentices free – Small Enterprise UK
– Multiverse, based by Euan Blair (son of ex-Prime Minister Tony), goals to coach over 5,000 apprentices in SMEs – right here’s tips on how to become involved
