Understanding apprenticeships as an employer
An apprenticeship is a great way to fill a job vacancy or upskill existing staff. Apprenticeships are in demand by job seekers and therefore it is a great way of recruiting staff. You may also consider upskilling your existing staff through an apprenticeship.
Here we explain how the process works and how we can help you at each step. You can also check out our apprenticeship FAQs below!
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a genuine job with an accompanying assessment and skills development programme. It is a way for employees to earn a wage whilst they gain valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role. The apprentice gains this through a mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practise new skills in a real work environment. For employers, hiring an apprentice is an opportunity to recruit motivated employees and teach them the skills that their organisation needs.
Benefits for your business
Apprenticeships
Find out how we can support your business by filling in our form below!
The Benefits of Apprenticeships: Build Skills, Boost Growth
Tailored, targeted training
86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation.
We use our strong business networks and knowledge to provide relevant training that adds value to your business.
Qualified and motivated staff
78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity.
Apprentices are eager to learn and add energy and enthusiasm to your workplace.
Reduced recruitment costs
Each year, more than 100,000 business leaders in over 170 industries employ apprentices across England.
We will help you hire an apprentice who is the right fit for your organisation, and manage their training from induction through to certification.
Funding the apprenticeship through the apprenticeship levy
The apprenticeship levy is a form of taxation designed to help companies offer more apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced by the UK government in April 2017 for all employers paying a wage bill of more than £3 million per year.
We can help you understand the apprenticeship levy and unlock the funding incentives available. We offer a one-stop service to navigate the funding arrangements so that your workforce benefits from high-quality training. Read more about the apprenticeship levy.
Levy Paying organisations (wage bill over £3m)
The Power of the Apprenticeship Levy: Invest in Your Workforce
Non-levy payers (wage bill under £3m)
Maximise Apprenticeship Funding: Affordable Training for Your Workforce
How to introduce apprenticeships into your business
A lack of knowledge about access to funding and the apprenticeship process means many organisations don’t have an apprenticeship programme. We help you navigate the process and break down those barriers. Follow our step-by-step guide to find out how.
We are an approved apprenticeship training provider offering high-quality professional training solutions designed to meet your organisation’s requirements and to improve the skills of your new and current workforce. Our team of experts are here to help you understand more about how to unlock the apprenticeship levy and manage the full apprenticeship process for you.
During our initial consultation, our apprenticeship experts will gain an understanding of your staff skills needs, and we will advise you on your funding options.
We also have access to a talent pool of about 37,000 candidates and a strong reputation for providing clear paths to work for learners.
Call us on 0207 391 6400 or email employer@capitalcct.ac.uk
Apprenticeship standards are the government-approved map of core skills and knowledge needed for a particular job, and we will work with you to ensure that we will build a learning programme for your apprentices that meets your skills needs. Our apprenticeship courses cover a variety of work sectors – from business and commerce to health and social care, construction, applied science, digital, and many more!
We have links with more than 500 organisations and hundreds of business leaders. These networks equip us with the scope and insight to design apprenticeship courses for a range of industry occupations. Our experienced teachers and trainers have hands-on industry expertise. We will work with you to customise the training to suit your business.
Apprenticeships are funded training, supported by either the government’s apprenticeship levy or a 90% government contribution. We will help you understand the funding arrangements to make the most of the training funding available for your business, how to unlock the funding and explain how you can use it (and what you can’t use it for!).
You might not be aware that your business is already paying into the apprenticeship levy, or how you can access the money. We are on hand to guide you through the process.
We will help you find the right apprentice, whether you are hiring a new recruit into an apprenticeship position, or developing existing staff.
Our resourcing team will help you promote your vacancy, interview, and shortlist applicants – all completely free of charge for employers.
How to Hire an Apprentice: Step-by-Step Guide for Employers
Future - Proof Your Workforce with Apprenticeships+
Apprenticeship training courses
We have a wide range of apprenticeship opportunities for your staff members in various subject areas. To see our current course offerings please click the button below!
Do you want help navigating the apprenticeship process for your business? Contact us!
Fill in the form below and our team will get back to you soon. We look forward to hearing from you!
Employers we work with
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you are considering bringing apprenticeships into your business, here we answer your frequently asked questions about how apprenticeships work.
You have two choices: create apprenticeship vacancies (a new job) within your organisation and place a job advert for it, or upskill your existing staff with an apprenticeship programme.
For either option, call us on 0207 391 6400 or email: employer@capitalcct.ac.uk and we will take you through the next steps.
We have links with more than 500 organisations and hundreds of business leaders. These networks equip us with the scope and insight to design our courses for a range of industry occupations. We are also rated ‘Good’ by apprentices and employers, and as an organisation we are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted‘. Check out our reviews here: Capital City College – training provider
Our apprenticeships cover a variety of work sectors – from business and commerce to health and social care, and our list of expertise is constantly growing.
Our experienced teachers and trainers have hands-on industry expertise. All our programmes are designed to fit the industry-approved map of core skills and knowledge needed for a particular job, and we will work with you to customise the training to suit your specific business needs.
Apprenticeships are funded by the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. We will help you understand the funding arrangements and how to access it, and support you through each stage to make sure you unlock all the funding available to your business.
Yes, our resourcing team will help you advertise your vacancy, interview and shortlist applicants – all completely free of charge. We will help you find the right person, whether you are hiring a new recruit or developing someone from your existing team.
Each year, more than 100,000 business leaders in over 170 industries employ apprentices across the UK. As part of our offer for employers, we provide a free, fully managed apprenticeship hire service. We will help you hire an apprentice who is the right fit for your organisation and manage their training programme from induction to certification.
We have helped employers in a number of business sectors, including:
- IT and digital design
- Healthcare and social care
- Management and team-leading
- Digital media, administration and customer service
- Hospitality and culinary arts
- Science
- Facilities and property management
- Legal services and accounting
You can find our full list of apprenticeship sectors and industries here.
Apprentices who complete our training are work-ready and equipped with externally recognised and quality-assessed qualifications. Some are award-winners in their sectors, advancing working practices with resourcefulness and dedication. Our college is a source of high-quality candidates, with around 37,000 students looking to enter the workforce.
An apprenticeship helps you to build a better business by upskilling your workforce with new knowledge and qualifications.
Recruiting a new apprentice: apprentices are eager to learn and add energy and enthusiasm to your workplace. A diverse range of people apply for our apprenticeships. You can expect applicants of any age, some of whom are looking to change careers and are excited to work in a new industry.
Upskilling existing staff: when you upskill your existing staff, this increases their morale and helps improve staff retention.
We work with you to design training programmes that are uniquely relevant and responsive to your business needs.
Apprenticeships are a work-based training programme that allows individuals aged 16+ to gain knowledge, skills and behaviours in a particular subject area whilst working. At the end of the programme, the apprentice will receive a nationally recognised qualification.
Apprenticeships allow individuals to earn while they learn, get new skills and knowledge whilst working, and progress within an organisation or career path. For employers, hiring an apprentice is an opportunity to recruit motivated employees and teach them the skills that their organisation needs.
Our training and support programmes for apprentices include:
- Mentoring with industry professional teachers
- Skills development plans relevant to the apprentices’ role
- On-site additional industry and soft skills training
- Access to the college’s state-of-the-art training facilities
Apprentices can be new employees or current employees already working for you. Your apprentice should:
- be 16 years old or older by the end of the summer holidays
- not be in full-time education
- work in a role that is relevant to their apprenticeship
- work enough paid hours each week to undertake sufficient training to achieve their apprenticeship
- live in England
Your commitment to them is:
- A contract of employment that is at least long enough to allow them to complete their apprenticeship successfully
- Pay your apprentice at least the National Minimum Wage for apprentices, or their usual wage if they are an existing member of staff
- A job role (or roles) that enables them to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to achieve their apprenticeship
- Allow your apprentice to combine learning in the workplace with formal off-the-job training
- Pay them for off-the-job training
If you create an apprenticeship vacancy, you will need to pay them at least the minimum national wage for apprentices (which varies depending on the age of the apprentice). If you are upskilling an existing member of staff, you will need to carry on paying them their usual salary and not deduct any salary for classroom-based learning.
The apprentice will need to spend 20% of their normal working hours on training, which might happen every week, every month or in a separate block of time, depending on the type of apprenticeship.
There are also some other costs depending on the size of your organisation. We will decode all of this for you and help you understand exactly how much taking on apprentices will cost you in monetary terms. We will also help you understand the Levy Transfer process which can help support the cost of taking on apprentices.
Full-time apprentice work at least 30 hours a week. Full-time apprentices should spend at least six hours a week on training.
Part-time apprentices work fewer than 30 hours a week. The amount of training part-time apprentices will do a week can vary, but this must still make up at least 20% of their working hours.
If an apprentice hasn’t already achieved their Maths and English GCSE or Equivalent Grades A*-C or Grades 4-9, there is funding available to help them achieve this.
Contact us to learn more about how we can unlock funding for this, and how your apprentice can achieve these grades either before or during the apprenticeship (depending on the timetable).
We will give you a checklist of everything that you need to do, and offer you guidance at every stage. Examples of tasks that you will need to do are below, but don’t worry, we will help you with these!
- Create an apprenticeship service account
- Sign a contract of employment with your apprentice
- Sign a training plan
- Complete the health and safety questionnaire and provide an Employer Liability Insurance Certificate
Meet with us to find out if an apprenticeship or a different route is the best option for your business. We will look at your skills gaps or vacancies, and discuss with you the options available.
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Unlock the Power of Apprenticeships: Boost Your Business with Apprenticeships+