Apprenticeships: how to apply, train and understand your pay
Apprenticeships allow people to hold a paid job while working towards a recognised qualification. They can suit those with a clear career goal, as well as people seeking skills development or a change of occupation without entering full-time study.
How apprenticeships work
An apprenticeship combines employment and structured learning, with employers responsible for supporting both elements.
Work and study together
Apprentices spend the larger share of their time in work and use part of their placement for learning delivered by an employer, college, university or online provider. They must work alongside experienced colleagues and be given time away from their duties for study.
Sectors and applicants
Opportunities cover business, engineering, construction, healthcare, digital, hospitality and creative industries, among many other fields. School leavers, young people and adults aiming to gain skills or move into another career can apply.
Training levels
Advanced apprenticeships, at A-level standard, are the most widely taken, while participation in higher apprenticeships has been increasing. Higher routes cover Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7, from foundation degree level upwards, and degree routes cover Levels 6 and 7, at bachelor’s or master’s degree level.
Pay and qualifications
Apprentices are employees and must receive at least the applicable legal minimum, although organisations may offer higher pay.
Minimum pay rules
Those under 19, and people aged 19 or over during the first year of their apprenticeship, must be paid no less than the apprentice rate of £8 per hour. Apprentices over 19 who have completed their first year qualify for the minimum wage that applies to their age. These rules operate across the UK.
Other recognised routes
Foundation apprenticeships are mostly at SCQF Level 6, equivalent to Highers standard. Modern apprenticeships are mostly at SCQF Levels 6 and 7, at Highers or Advanced Highers standard, while graduate apprenticeships span SCQF Levels 9, 10 and 11, at undergraduate or master’s degree standard. Completing some programmes can lead to higher earnings.
Finding and assessing vacancies
Hundreds of thousands of people undertake apprenticeships in England annually. Applicants can search broadly or approach an organisation where they already know they want to work.
Where to submit an application
Vacancies can be sought through official apprenticeship websites for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ucas also provides a search for apprenticeship openings. Alternatively, applicants can apply directly through an employer’s website.
What to check before accepting
Applicants should weigh the training and career prospects carefully before committing to a placement.
Career fit
Consider whether a future job in the sector is appealing and whether the qualification will support the intended career.
Terms of the placement
Establish the training on offer, the pay, the length of the placement and the opportunities within the organisation.
Selection and completion
Applicants face an interview before starting and must pass an assessment of what they have learned to complete the apprenticeship. Reviews are also available on sites including RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk.
Access and completion concerns
Government measures have sought to expand apprenticeship places and help more young people enter training, but concerns remain about participation and access.
Barriers to entry
The number of young people beginning apprenticeships has declined in recent years, and questions have been raised over whether people from different backgrounds have equal access. Ucas has said that applying separately for each apprenticeship was among factors discouraging young people.
Why some leave early
Not every apprentice finishes their course. Personal circumstances, revised career ambitions, inadequate training quality and insufficient study time can all lead someone to leave. England has changed apprenticeship rules, including course requirements, in an effort to increase available opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about apprenticeships.
1. What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a paid job combined with structured learning towards a recognised qualification. Apprentices work with experienced colleagues and receive dedicated time for study through an employer, college, university or online provider.
2. Why do apprenticeships matter?
They give school leavers, young people and adults a way to develop occupational skills, pursue a career goal or change direction without entering full-time study. However, access and completion remain concerns, including differences in participation and the quality of training available.
3. What are the main benefits and pay implications?
Apprentices gain workplace experience while working towards qualifications ranging from advanced and higher levels to degree-level routes. They are employees and must receive at least the applicable legal minimum. In the UK, the apprentice rate is £8 per hour for those under 19 and for people aged 19 or over in their first year; after the first year, apprentices over 19 qualify for the minimum wage for their age.
4. How can I apply for an apprenticeship?
Search the official apprenticeship websites for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, use Ucas’s apprenticeship search, or check an employer’s website. Before applying or accepting a place, compare the training, pay, duration, career prospects and opportunities offered, and be prepared for an interview.
Based on reporting from the original report.
