Steps for Employers Hiring an Apprentice

If you are planning to employ an apprentice, they will need to be at least sixteen (16) years old before you can take them on.

You would need to offer them a combination of work and study time. This is how apprentices gain skills and knowledge in a specific type of job.

Even so, when you are employing apprentices as their employer, you can take them on from existing employees or as a new member of staff.

If you are hiring apprentices in England, you may qualify for government funding. The money can help to cover some of the cost of assessing and training an apprentice.

All youngsters doing this kind of training would be entitled to apprentice rates of pay – according to the National Minimum Wage (NMW). Employers also need to make sure their apprentices:

• Work together and in cooperation with experienced staff.
• Learn skills that are specific to a job role.
• Get time to study during their normal working week (e.g. at a further education college or training organisation).

If you are an employer looking to take on an apprentice, you should:

1. Choose one of the frameworks or standards that offer a suitable apprenticeship level for the industry you are in. You can find apprenticeship training through the ESFA online service.
2. Check what government funding is available and whether you need to pay the levy (details below).
3. Advertise the apprenticeship that you are offering (usually done by the training organisation through the find an apprenticeship service).
4. Select someone to employ as an apprentice.
5. Create an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement with the new employee.

Note: Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) produces a list of approved apprenticeship training agencies (ATAs). They can recruit, employ, and arrange training for apprentices on your behalf.

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How Long Must Apprenticeships Last?

All apprenticeships offered by employers must last for a minimum of one (1) year. In some cases, they will run for several years (depending on the different apprenticeship levels).

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The Employer Enquiry Form

You can fill in the employer enquiry form if your business might benefit from employing an apprentice. You can also contact the National Apprenticeship Service for further information and guidance.

National Apprenticeship Service
Telephone: 0800 015 0600
Find out more on call charges.

Note: Employers based in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland should contact a local apprenticeship authority instead.

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How to Get Apprenticeship Funding

There are several benefits of employing an apprentice. One of them is getting financial help from the government to pay for their training.

The amount that employers get varies. As a rule, it would depend on whether you are paying the apprenticeship levy. As an employer, you will pay Apprenticeship Levy if your pay bill goes over £3 million each year.

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If the Apprenticeship Started Before 1st April 2019

Employers would contribute 10% towards the training costs for apprenticeships that started before April the 1st 2019. So, the government would pay the other 90%. The rate would continue until the apprentice has completed their training.

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Apprentice Pay and Conditions

As their employer, you would have the responsibility of making a contract of employment and paying apprentice wage rates based on the NMW.

Note: You can use the National Minimum Wage calculator to check whether you are paying the correct amount.

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Training Conditions

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) can help you find apprenticeship training. Your trainees must train for at least twelve (12) months and be working towards one of the approved apprenticeship standards or frameworks.

The job they are employed in must be valid work that provides them with an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to pass their assessment.

Employing an apprentice also means paying them for time that they spend training or studying – as part of their apprenticeship. Thus, you would need to pay them while they are at work, at a further education college, or at a training organisation.

Your apprentices will be entitled to the same conditions as your other employees who work at similar grades or in similar roles. Apprentice entitlements will include:

• Getting paid for holidays
• Benefits offered by the company (e.g. childcare voucher schemes)
• Statutory Sick Pay
• Specialist training and support (e.g. coaching or mentoring)

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Apprentice Redundancy Rights

The same employment rights that apply to employees also apply to apprentices. So, you must follow the correct procedures for making staff redundant if there is a need to make an apprentice redundant.

Note: It may be wise to get legal representation and professional advice before ending an apprenticeship early.

You can use an apprentice training agency (ATA) if you have doubts about committing to a full apprenticeship. But, you would not be able to use funds from a digital account to pay for agency services if you are paying the apprenticeship levy.

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