BEST Training | Qualifications: Apprenticeships

As an employer you can use an Apprenticeship to train your existing staff or as an opportunity to add to your workforce. They are work-based training programmes designed around the needs of employers, which lead to national recognised qualifications.

As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 and not in full-time education can apply.

Best Training is able to offer apprenticeships in:

Customer Service
Business Administration
IT User
IT Professional

Apprenticeship Information for Employers

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed around the needs of employers, which lead to national recognised qualifications. You can use Apprenticeships to train both new and existing employees. Funding is available to train apprentices in the following areas:

Customer Service
Business Administration
IT User
IT Professional

Apprenticeships are designed by the Sector Skills Councils, while the National Apprenticeship Service helps to fund the training. Business representatives from the relevant industry sector work with the Sector Skills Councils to develop the course content. Because they genuinely understand your business, the training will be relevant for your industry.

Training

As Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes, most of the training is ‘on the job’ at your premises. The rest can be provided by a local college, by a specialist learning provider, or you could deliver everything yourself.

As the employer you must give your apprentices an induction into their role and provide on-the-job training. You are also responsible for paying your apprentices wages.

A learning provider will provide an employer representative who will be able to support and guide you. They will work with you to:

Help you decide which Apprenticeship is right for you
Explain the way that Apprenticeships might work for you and if funding is available
Agree a training plan with your apprentice
Recruit an apprentice or support your existing staff into Apprenticeships
Manage the training and evaluation
Ensure that national quality standards are met and deliver integrated, coherent training.

National Minimum Wage

A national minimum wage for apprentices was introduced on 1 October 2010. The wage applies to all apprentices aged under 19 and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their Apprenticeship.

The apprentice minimum wage is £2.50 per hour and applies to time working, plus time spent training that is part of the Apprenticeship. Employers are free to pay the above wage and many do so, but employers must ensure that they are paying their apprentices at least the minimum wage. If an apprentice is on a higher wage, the employer must continue to pay this for the remainder of the training or until the apprentice becomes eligible for the full national minimum wage.

Best Training offer two levels of Apprenticeship available for those aged 16 and over:

1 | Apprenticeships(equivalent to five A-C GCSE passes)

Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as an NVQ Level 2 and Key Skills .
These provide the skills you need for your chosen career and allow entry to an Advanced Apprenticeship.

2 | Advanced Apprenticeships (equivalent to two A-level passes)

Advanced apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as NVQ Level 3 and Key Skills.
To start this programme, you should ideally have five GCSEs (grade C or above) or have completed an Apprenticeship.

An Apprenticeship is essentially a set of qualifications called a ‘framework’ developed by Sector Skills Councils. Most Apprenticeship frameworks follow a standard format that comprises:

A National Vocational Qualification (e.g. Level 2 for Intermediate Level Apprenticeships, Level 3 for Advanced Level Apprenticeships).
Key Transferable Skills.
A Technical Certificate.

Funding

Apprenticeship funding is available from the National Apprenticeship Service. The size of the contribution varies depending on your sector and the age of the candidate. If the apprentice is aged 16–18 years old, you will receive 100 per cent of the cost of the training. If they are 19-24 years old, you will receive up to 50 per cent, if they are 25 years old or over you may only get a contribution depending on the sector and area in which you operate.

This is paid directly to the organisation that provides and supports the Apprenticeship; in most cases this will be a learning provider. Large employers with a direct contract with the National Apprenticeship Service may receive the funding themselves

Apprentice Information for Employees

Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.50 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more.

Key benefits:

earn a salary
get paid holidays
receive training
gain qualifications
learn job-specific skills.

Your career

Employers all over the country recognise and value Apprenticeships as they show that you’ve been trained in the skills they need. Once you’ve completed your Apprenticeship you can choose to carry on working, undertake more advanced training or even go on to higher education.

Your employer and learning provider
Your employer will provide your on-the-job training and pay your wages. A learning provider is usually a local college or specialist training organisation
responsible for the rest of your training. The learning provider will appoint a mentor who will follow your progress and work with the employer to ensure
your training is well planned.

Best Training can offer Apprenticeships in:

Customer Service
Business Administration
IT User
IT Professional

Interviews

Getting an Apprenticeship is the same as getting a job. If your application is successful you will be interviewed and you may be asked to take tests to see if you’re the right person.

You’ll need to sell yourself and convince the employer that an Apprenticeship is right for you.

Three levels of Apprenticeship

There are three levels of Apprenticeship available for those aged 16 and over:

1 | Apprenticeships(equivalent to five good GCSE passes)

Apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as an NVQ Level 2, Key Skills and, in some cases, a relevant knowledge-based qualification such as a BTEC.
These provide the skills you need for your chosen career and allow entry to an Advanced Apprenticeship.

2 | Advanced Apprenticeships (equivalent to two A-level passes)

Advanced apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifications such as NVQ Level 3, Key Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge based certificate such as a BTEC.
To start this programme, you should ideally have five GCSEs (grade C or above) or have completed an Apprenticeship.

3 | Higher Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships work towards work-based learning qualifications such as NVQ Level 4 and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Foundation degree.

Apprenticeship includes:

An appropriate work-based qualification such as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at either Level 2 or Level 3;
Either Key Skills (e.g. working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology) or Functional Skills (e.g. Maths and English) qualifications;
A technical qualification such as a BTEC or City & Guilds (relevant to the specific Apprenticeship);
Other qualifications or requirements as specified by the particular occupation.

For more information call 01202 747523