I want to employ an apprentice
Is your business thinking about taking on an apprentice? It’s a fantastic way for you to…
- Bring new talent into your workforce
- Introduce a fresh perspective and new skills into your team
- Upskill your staff
- Introduce up to date industry knowledge to your staff, to benefit the whole workforce.
- Reduce recruitment costs and staff turnover
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is basically a real job with training. The apprentice is your employee but you work with a training provider, such as us, who guides and supports you with recruitment and then through the training element so the apprentice becomes the qualified and motivated employee you need.
Apprentices don’t do a qualification; they work towards what is called a Standard in the area of training which aligns best with the role you, as the employer, need filling. The Standards list the sort of skills, behaviours and knowledge expected of an apprentice on completion of their apprenticeship.
These are the Standards we currently deliver. More details can be found by clicking on the links…
- Business Administrator ( Level 3 Advanced, 15 – 18 months)
- Customer Service Practitioner ( Level 2 Intermediate, 12- 15 months)
- Team Leader: ( Level 3 Advanced, 15 – 18 months)
- Teaching Assistant ( Level 3 Advanced, 15 – 18 months)
- Early Years Educator ( Level 3 Advanced, 15 – 18 months)
Why choose Skills & Learning?
As Dorset’s adult education provider, we work with many small, medium and large businesses across the county to provide exciting apprenticeship opportunities. Since the formation of our service in 2013, we have helped over 35,000 learners through courses to help them gain new skills and confidence. Apprentices with us also have access to our many forms of learner support, including financial help, study support and extra equipment they may need for learning.
Our achievement rates…
Find out more from one of our employers
Nikki Tonkin, Finance Controller at Inoplas, talks about her experience hiring apprentices with Skills & Learning. Watch the video below:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do I need to pay the apprenticeship levy?
Apprenticeship Levy is an amount paid at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s annual pay bill.
As an employer, you have to pay Apprenticeship Levy each month if you:
- have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million
- are connected to any companies or charities for Employment Allowance purposes and have a combined annual pay bill of more than £3 million.
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, you contribute 5% of the training costs if you take someone who is over 19. However, if you take someone under 19 and you employ less than 50 people, the training is free and you receive an extra grant of £1000.
Find out more on the Government website here.
Do Apprentices have to be employed full time?
The minimum duration of 15 months is based on an apprentice working at least 30 hours a week, including any off-the-job training they undertake. If the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours a week, or where a part-time working pattern is needed, it can be agreed with the training provider to extend the apprenticeship accordingly. This could happen with Teaching Assistant Apprentices, for example. However, in most circumstances, the normal working week will be 37.5 hours, worked as five consecutive days from Monday to Friday.
What is off the job training?
80% of the apprentice’s working week is spent learning on the job. They need to have 20% of their working week doing ‘off-the job’ training. This can be mainly delivered by you as the employer to give your apprentice the new skills they need. As the training provider we supplement this depending on the needs of the role and the Standard in relation to the development of the apprentice. It is quite flexible. Find out more about what counts as ‘off-the-job’ training here.
How are Skills & Learning involved in the apprenticeship?
- We offer an Initial Assessment to identify prior experience, learning, learning styles and personal goals. This will identify skills gaps and functional skills abilities which will inform the individual learning plan for the apprentice.
- One of our apprenticeship tutors will help oversee the apprenticeship process so everyone is happy with progress and will visit at least once a month – virtually if necessary. Reviews take place every 3 months.
- We can support an apprentice’s ICT, English and maths skills offering qualifications if required
“The apprenticeship is delivered in a tried and trusted way. There are good frameworks in place and staff delivering the course are reliable and always available if we have questions. We as the employer and the Apprentice have regular collaboration with S&L and the course delivery goes hand in hand with the day to day on the ground workplace learning.”
“The apprentice assessor was fabulous, a real credit to the apprentice program great mentor and really proactive with apprentices and managers. Team were very supportive when there were technical issues for the end point assessment.”
