During 2018/19, 742,400 people were participating in an apprenticeship scheme, that’s a big chunk of people! So, what is an Apprentice and how do you go about getting one?
Apprenticeships provide an alternative path to education whilst learning “on the job” skills. For employers, it’s an opportunity to tackle any skills shortage you may have within your business and implement a more robust succession plan whilst also giving your current staff the chance to build on their training skills.
What do you need to know:
1. The apprenticeship training programme is for those aged 16 or over
2. Apprenticeships lasts a minimum of one year but can last as long as five
3. The programme includes both in-house and off-site training
4. Apprentices are paid a wage including holiday pay
5. You’ll be required to give the apprentice time off for study.
Your apprentice will be an employee from day one and should be treated as one. They will work alongside your experienced staff to gain skills specific to the job. The current minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.90 per hour, although many businesses choose to pay a higher hourly rate to ensure they appear attractive and get the best choice of apprentices.
How do you go about recruiting an apprentice? You can:
1. Contact your local apprenticeship training provider who can source an apprentice and deliver their training
2. Advertise the opportunity yourself on your website, social media pages or using the top-performing job sites
3. Contact your local schools and colleges to see if you could advertise your job directly with them.
National Apprenticeship Week 2020 takes place from 3rd – 9th February. For more information on taking on an apprentice, visit www.gov.uk/take-on-an-apprentice.
If you would like us to help you advertise an apprenticeship role on the top-performing job sites, our prices start from just £395. Call us today on 01473 276146 or for further information visit our website.