Could you take on an apprentice?

With the cost of going to university soaring, apprenticeships are booming as the government makes them an attractive alternative to higher education and the debt a degree incurs. Is your company able to offer an apprenticeship scheme?

Apprenticeship is a mix of learning on the job and formal tuition, allowing apprentices to gain a qualification along with experience, thus providing a solution to the vicious cycle of needing experience to get a job but not being able to get experience if you can’t get a job. There are certain rules and regulations surrounding taking on an apprentice that you must be aware of:

• You must pay your apprentice at least the minimum wage during their placement;
• They must learn job-specific skills.
• Studying for a work-based qualification during their working week is an obligation.

An apprenticeship can last from 1 to 4 years, depending on the level of qualification the apprentice is studying for. If you’d like to hire an apprentice, there are several steps to take:

• Choose an apprenticeships framework or standard for an apprenticeship in your industry and at a suitable level.
• Find a training organisation that offers apprenticeships for your industry to handle your apprentice’s training, qualification and assessment.
• Check you’re eligible for a grant and apply.
• Advertise your apprenticeship – your training organisation will do this for you through the ‘Find an Apprenticeship Service’.
• Select your apprentice and make an apprenticeship agreement with them.

Taking on an apprentice can bring young, enthusiastic talent to your company and is a win-win for both you and the apprentice.

If you have any questions on starting an apprenticeship scheme in your business please contact me for advice.