What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a job designed to develop work-based skills while gaining qualifications, skills and knowledge in the workplace.

Apprentices must spend at least 80% of their time in work, and 20% of their time on off-the-job training, at the college and in the workplace.

786 apprentices aged 16+ started their apprenticeships with us last 3 academic years.

Employers have the option of training their existing employees via an apprenticeship or taking on new staff.

Apprenticeships aren’t just for brand-new members of staff, and they’re not just for school leavers either. In fact, having an existing employee begin an apprenticeship can be an extremely cost-effective way of retraining, retaining and upskilling your staff.

Apprenticeships aren’t for low skilled or unqualified workers. Instead, they offer a work training programme that’s a genuine alternative to GCSEs, A levels, or traditional university study, with the focus being on training the apprentice and giving them the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in their chosen industry.

As their employer, you’ll have a say in the type of training and qualification your apprentice will receive.

Why recruit an apprentice?

• reduce recruitment costs

• grants available

• reduce staff turnover

• increase in employee satisfaction.

Did you know?

Did you know that 92% of apprenticeship employers nationally believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce?

Apprenticeships allow you to recruit people and train them specifically for the needs of your business as well as upskilling existing staff to help your business succeed.

Funding for apprenticeships changed in April 2017 with the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy. While only businesses with a pay bill in excess of £3million per annum have to pay the levy, all other employers (except those with fewer than 50 employers) have to contribute 5% of the cost. The remainder is met by the government.

By training an apprentice, you’re investing in the future of your company and the skills of your workforce. With the minimum apprenticeship length now standing at 12 months, and with around 70% of all apprentices staying with the same employer after finishing their qualification, hiring an apprentice doesn’t mean sacrificing continuity in your business. We’re also ideally placed to help you recruit the right person for your needs – 786 apprentices aged 16+ started their apprenticeships with us last academic year.

We’re one of the biggest apprenticeship providers in the area offering training in a wide range of sectors listed and our industry-experienced staff mean that we’re experts in training.

For more information about apprenticeship see the Government Employer Guide to Apprenticeships.

Skills gaps

We can help you find new employees to fill the skills gaps in your business. Apprenticeships can be flexible – while they are governed by apprenticeship standards to ensure consistency, in practice a variety of different job roles can be mapped onto an existing apprenticeship standard, meaning that you can hire an apprentice to meet the skills shortage in your business.

Equally, by investing in your staff, you will be supporting the needs of your business and ensuring long-term growth. Bringing in an apprentice will mean your organisation will gain another productive employee (or keep one that it already had), and both smaller and larger firms find that hiring apprentices works out to be a really cost-effective option for acquiring more skilled staff.