Apprenticeships are job-related training programmes which combine on and on the job learning and development activities in an identified and salaried role. They are used to grow and develop your team and can be used to hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16, living in England and have no upper age limit. High quality apprenticeships should be accessible to all people from all backgrounds. There will be different entry requirements depending on the industry, job role, and apprenticeship level.  

Recent changes to the minimum English and maths requirements mean that people with a learning difficulty or disability can now access a level 2 intermediate apprenticeship as long as they can achieve an entry level 3 qualification during their apprenticeship.  

A Disability Confident Employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria as defined by the employer. 

All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice’s ability and competence in their job role.

Apprentices earn the national minimum wage (NMW). There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on their age and what year of their apprenticeship they’ve completed.

This is the legal minimum pay per hour, but most apprentices receive more. We support The Living Wage campaign which encourages employers to pay wages based on the Minimum Income Standard which is based on the UK cost of living.

The minimum duration of each apprenticeship is based on the apprentice working 30 hours a week or more, including any off-the-job training they undertake. This is adaptable for some circumstances, such as caring responsibilities.  

The time spent on off-the-job training should be at least 20% and should be included as part of working hours. The employer must allow time to complete the apprenticeship within the working hours. If support is needed with English and maths, this should also take place within the apprentice’s working hours.  

There are around 800+ apprenticeship standards to choose from. You can use the apprenticeship standard finder to find pre-approved standards and those still in development.  

Finding the right training provider is a key part of the process if your organisation decides to develop an Apprenticeship role. There are many training providers, working both locally and nationally, online and in-person. 

The training provider has a key role to play in providing off-the-job training, assessing progress towards achieving their qualifications and supporting generally during the apprenticeship. Training providers work very closely with employers to ensure that the apprentice receives: 

• An induction programme on starting 
• A detailed training plan (including on the job training) 
• Regular progress reviews  
• Opportunities to put into practise off-the-job learning so that they can achieve their qualifications/requirements of the apprenticeship 
• Mentoring and general support throughout the apprenticeship  

This will all be documented in a commitment statement that is part of the Apprenticeship Agreement. This is an individual learning plan that the provider, the employer and the apprentice will all sign up to. A template can be found here.  

You can find out more about learner satisfaction with training organisations and colleges by accessing the learner satisfaction survey results. 

You can use the Find apprenticeship training service to search for suitable apprenticeships and identify approved training providers who can deliver that training. The service contains details of training providers who currently offer apprenticeships. 

If employers haven’t been able to find a suitable training provider for a particular apprenticeship training course, they can share their interest with all training providers.  

Apprentices must complete an assessment to demonstrate what the apprentice has learnt and that they can perform all aspects of their occupation. The end-point assessment organisation must be independent from the training provider.  

You can find an end-point assessment organisation for your apprentice here. 

Updated information on funding an apprenticeship can be found here. This is a useful tool that takes you through the options, dependent on the size of your organisation and your eligibility for government funding.  

Most VCSE organisations are small employers and therefore are eligible for government funding which will pay between 95% and 100% of the apprentice training costs. Larger employers can use your levy to pay for your apprenticeship training. You pay the levy if you’re an employer with a pay bill over £3 million each year.  

If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy 

You can use your apprenticeships service account to manage funding and provider payments.  

You could get extra funding depending on both your and your apprentice’s circumstances. Check the funding rules to see if you’re eligible.  

If you pay the apprenticeship levy 

Find out how to pay the apprenticeship levy. 

You can use your apprenticeships service account to manage funding and provider payments. 

You can get £1,000 to support your apprentice in the workplace if they are one of the following:

• 16 to 18 years old
• 19 to 25 years old with an education, health and care plan
• 19 to 25 years old and they used to be in care.

If you are a Levy paying company, i.e. you have annual wage bill of more than £3million, you can now transfer some of your unspent Levy funds to another organisation, to support growth within their business.  

Total People have created a useful guide on Apprenticeship Levy Transfers for Employers  

This useful process guide is adapted from this brief guide to apprenticeships, developed by Leeds Health and Social Care Hub. 

1. You’ll need to create an apprenticeship service account to hire an apprentice. You can do this here. 
2. Choose an apprenticeship training course and find a training provider (see our section on apprenticeship training above). You can do this here. 
3. Create your own apprenticeship opportunity using ‘recruit an apprentice’ here. Apprenticeship opportunities can be advertised on the national Apprenticeship website.   
4. Check what funding grants your organisation might be eligible for and explore the apprenticeship levy. 
5. Shortlist and interview as you would do with any other job. You may need to liaise with your training provider to ensure that your preferred candidate is eligible for the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship provider may require your preferred candidate to complete a training application for this process.  
6. Once the provider has accepted your preferred applicant and you have completed all the standard employment checks, you can confirm the appointment and start date. An apprenticeship agreement must be signed at the start of the apprenticeship. A template is available here. 
7. Your new apprentice starts their exciting role with ongoing support and guidance. 

Total People resources, including guides to apprenticeships, funding rules for employers, and an overview of their own apprenticeships.  

Brief guide to apprenticeships, developed by Leeds Health and Social Care Hub 

Gov.uk Apprenticeship Resources has a comprehensive library of information on implementing apprenticeships.  

Guidance on the Apprenticeships Policy in England.