How To Prepare Your Business for an Apprentice

The Apprenticeship Requirements

To hire an apprentice, you will need to be able to provide:

1. A contract of employment
2. At least National Minimum Wage for Apprentices
3. At least 20% of their normal working hours as time to carry out training and studying.
4. A Digital Apprenticeship Service account. (More information on setting up DAS.)

Apprentice Recruitment

It's a good idea that you spend some time thinking about the type of candidate you would like for the role. Be specific with what you're looking for, are you looking for any desired experience or knowledge, personal qualities, etc.

Being thorough in your job description will help candidates to better assess whether they match your ideal candidate. This should include things like:

• Information about your organisation
• The location
• Job title
• Main responsibilities
• Any other requirements for the role

If you'd like support at this stage, one of our advisors will be able to assist and also talk you through our free and full recruitment package. They'll take the time to fully understand what your business needs so we can find you candidates that match the criteria you're looking for, and that are actively looking for apprenticeship roles matching your job description.

Apprenticeship Incentives

When recruiting an apprentice you will be entitled to a cash incentive of £1000 from the government if your apprentice is between the ages of 16 and 18. This is paid by BACS in two halves, one after your apprentice has been enrolled for 13 weeks, and the other after they've been enrolled for 12 months.

Apprenticeship Levy

There are two different types of apprenticeship funding for employers in England: levy funding and non-levy funding. If you're not sure about which category your organisation falls under, read more on our Levy vs Non-Levy page.

Supporting Your Apprentice

In most instances, an apprentice should be managed in the same way as any other member of staff within your organisation. During the recruitment stage, you'll assign a mentor who will ensure your apprentice has clear access to work and development plans.

As mentioned previously, the apprentice will be required to complete 20% of their working hours as off the job training. This should be planned in for them to ensure they have access to the right support and are spending the correct amount of time on their development. Giving apprentices regular feedback on performance and progress through 1-to-1's with mentors and line managers will help them to understand what is expected of their progress and what their next steps should be.