Hiring or upskilling existing staff

What employers need to know 

First things first

It is important to understand that an apprenticeship is a ‘genuine job.’ The difference between an apprenticeship and any other job is that an apprenticeship comes with an accompanying ‘skills development programme.’ This provides apprentices with an opportunity to earn while they learn and to gain valuable skills and knowledge in their specific job role as well as a nationally recognised qualification. 

Apprentices gain knowledge and skills through a wide mix of learning opportunities both on the job and off-the-job and can apply and practise what they learn in a real work environment.

Apprenticeships are suitable for people at any age and any level so you can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee, allowing you to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. 

Apprenticeships to all intents and purposes are free to both the employer and the learner – as they are funded by levy tax. 

How do they work?

Off The Job Training (OTJT).

All Apprentices are required to spend a minimum number of their contracted working hours developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours in what is called off the job training (OTJT).  From August 2025, 

Apprentices are also required to work and learn on the job  – often referred to as on the job training – this means they should work under the supervision and guidance of others. This ensures an apprentice develops both the hard and soft, sector specific skills for their workplace.

Eligibility Criteria

Apprenticeships are open to a wide range of individuals in England, regardless of age, background, or previous qualifications. However, because Apprenticeships are funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, key funding criteria must be met.

These are:

• The applicant must be aged 16 or above.(there is no upper age limit)

• The applicant must have a valid and eligible residency status and the right to work in the UK (the applicant must have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years and work in the UK for at least 50% of their contracted hours)

• The applicant will not be undertaking any other government funded training.

• The applicant will not have the same qualification in the same subject area as the apprenticeship applied for (applicants can have other/higher qualifications like degrees – just not in the same/similar subject)

• The job role/duties undertaken by the applicant will provide adequate opportunity to meet the (knowledge, skills and behaviour) requirements set out in the apprenticeship.

Employer responsibilities

If you choose to recruit and/or develop staff through an apprenticeship you will need to:

• Pay them a “lawful wage” that complies with regulations for their age 
• Employ them for the duration of their apprenticeship programme including the final assessment 
• Allow the apprentice to complete their off-the-job training during normal working hours
• Assign a workplace mentor to take a lead on the following:

Support and encourage the apprentices development, giving the apprentice appropriate support and supervision as well as opportunities to consolidate new learning in the workplace

Assist the training provider in collecting evidence of off-the-job training

Contribute to progress reviews with the apprentice and training provider 

• Agree and sign compliance documents at the beginning and end of the apprenticeship (employer or mentor). These are generated by the training provider.