Individual guide to Apprenticeship
What is an apprenticeship, exactly?
As an apprentice, you’ll:
work alongside experienced staff
gain job-specific skills
earn a wage and get holiday pay
be given time for study related to your role (the equivalent of one day a week)
What levels are there?
Entry requirements vary from programme to programme, and depend on the sector and prior skills. If you have achieved A-levels you may still be expected to start at intermediate or advanced level at some sectors.
Name | Level | Equivalent educational level |
---|---|---|
Intermediate | 2 | 5 GCSE passes at grade A*– C or 9 – 4 |
Advanced | 3 | 2 A level passes/Level 3 Diploma/International Baccalaureate |
Higher | 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor’s or master’s degree |
What can I earn?
Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage
Year | 25 and over | 21 to 24 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 2018 | £7.83 | £7.38 | £5.90 | £4.20 |
What’s in it for me?
Earn a real wage;
Be trained in the skills employers want;
You will set yourself up for the future.
Apprentices enjoy marked salary increases when they complete their training, and those completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 over their lifetime.*
What are employers looking for?
It helps if you have a particular interest in the area you want to work in and can demonstrate this from previous experience. Anything that can demonstrate your interest and your readiness for work could help you stand out from the crowd.
When to apply?
Smaller businesses might start recruiting a month or two before the job starts, so if you hope to start work in August or September, you might start looking from Easter onwards.
Do check start dates closely, to make sure you’ll have finished school or college.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16, living in England.
The National Apprenticeship Service is committed to ensuring that high quality apprenticeships are a prestigious option, accessible to all people from all backgrounds. All vacancies on Find an apprenticeship will clearly state what the entry requirements are for the job role being advertised. There will be different entry requirements depending on the industry, job role and apprenticeship level.
Recent changes to the minimum English and maths requirements now 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. For more details, search Disability Confident on GOV.UK.
Where do I look for an apprenticeship?
If you have a specific interest in a certain employer, it is also worth going direct to their recruitment site. Contact the National Apprenticeship Help desk for further support on 0800 015 0400 or by email: nationalhelpdesk@findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk
How many hours per week should I be working?
The time spent on off-the-job training should be at least 20% and should be included as part of your hours. Your employer must allow you time to complete your apprenticeship within your working hours. If you need support with English and maths this should also be within working hours
Who can apply and how?
16 or over by the end of the summer holidays
Living in England
Not in full-time education
Once the right job comes up, you can simply register on the website and follow the step by step instructions to apply for the role
What is the role of Applied Business Academy
An induction programme on starting
A detailed training plan (including on-the-job training)
Regular progress reviews
Opportunities to put into practice off-the-job learning so that you can achieve your qualifications/requirements of the apprenticeship
Mentoring and general support throughout your apprenticeship
Once the right job comes up, you can simply register on the website and follow the step by step instructions to apply for the role