Learn more about upskilling your staff with apprenticeships at The Skills Network
Looking to learn more about apprenticeships? Nice one, we've got your back! Take a peek at our most frequently asked questions to learn more today.What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university, or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.The current apprenticeship standards have been developed by employers and set the criteria
for what is considered as essential skills, knowledge, and behaviour required to carry out
a job role. There is a range of different apprenticeship standards that cover a variety of
different job roles and levels.
How old do my staff have to be to enrol on an apprenticeship?
To study an apprenticeship with The Skill Network, your staff have to be aged 16 to 24 years.Does an apprenticeship allow employees to progress within their career?
Yes, the journey doesn’t end once your employees have completed their apprenticeships. A City and Guilds study shows that 33% of employers have seen apprentices reach management positions within their company and over 50% of employers said it took five years or less for an apprentice to reach such a position.What are my responsibilities as an employer?
As an employer, you need to make sure there is a genuine job available with a contract
of employment long enough for the apprentice to complete their apprenticeship. The
duration will depend on the type of apprenticeship the apprentice is undertaking. The
job role must allow the apprentice to develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviours set
within the apprenticeship standards. You will need to allow the apprentice time to study
and attend at least 20% off-the-job training. The apprentice will need support in their new
role, so a mentor or manager must be available to provide this support.
How long does an apprenticeship take to complete?
An apprenticeship takes a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 5 years depending on the level of apprenticeship and which industry sector you are training. By rule of thumb:
- Level 2 - 12-18 months
- Level 3 - 24 months
- Degree - up to 5 years
Can existing staff join an apprenticeship programme?
Yes, provided that during the apprenticeship they will learn substantive new skills. Rules
around 20% off-the-job training still apply and this will need to be considered when choosing
the apprenticeship route as an option.
How much does an apprenticeship cost my organisation?
The total cost of the training will depend on if your company is a Levy or Non-Levy Employer.
What is the apprenticeship levy?
The Apprenticeship Levy is a UK tax on employers which is used to fund apprenticeship training. Introduced at the start of the 2017/18 tax year, it is payable by all employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million, at a rate of 0.5% of their total pay bill.
What if my business does not pay into the apprenticeship levy?
Non-Levy paying employers will share the cost of training and assessing their Apprentices with the government. Non-Levy paying employers will pay 5% towards the cost of Apprenticeship training with the government paying the rest (95%).
Want to learn more about upskilling your staff with apprenticeships at The Skills Network? Check out our online resource.