What is an apprenticeship?
- An apprenticeship is a way for young people and adults to earn whilst they learn in a real job, gaining a relevant and useful qualification ‘The Apprenticeship’. Apprenticeships are available at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree level. Hiring apprentices will help your business to grow talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.
- The Apprenticeship is structured to build the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for your workforce. It involves 20% off the job training, skills building in the workplace and an End Point Assessment of competency upon completion of the training programme. Some apprenticeships also include a diploma qualification.
Apprenticeships are available to businesses of all sizes and sectors in England, and can last from between 12 months to 4 years. They are linked to job roles or occupations, over 1,500 of them across 170 industries, the range of apprenticeships available mean that each one is relevant and appropriate both for you the business and the apprentice.
The Apprentice
Most of the training within an apprenticeship is on-the-job, working with a mentor to learn job specific skills in the workplace. Off-the-job training will depend on the occupational area and your requirements and needs. This training may be delivered in the workplace or through ‘day or block release’ at premises away from the working environment.
Typically the apprentice will spend four days at work and one day at college, they must be in paid employment for at least 30 hours a week which includes both the on and off the job training.
Greater Skills Capacity
82% of employers take on apprentices to build the skills capacity within their business
Lower recruitment costs
75% of apprentice employers agree that Apprenticeships have helped cut recruitment costs
Increased Workforce Motivation
88% of apprentice employers agree that Apprenticeships lead to a more motived and satisfied workforce leading to greater loyalty and quality
Employing Apprentices Makes Great Business Sense
In the UK, over 200,000 workplaces employ 870,000 apprentices, 83% of employers with apprentices would recommend them to other employers. Apprentices are suitable for employers of all sizes, in 2015 56% of apprentices were employed in small or medium enterprises consisting of less than 25 employees.
Trained your way, providing the right skills for your company and its future, employing apprentices provides a number of benefits:
Improved Product or Service Quality
70% of apprentice employers believe that their apprentices have led to an improved product or quality of service offered to their customers.
Increased Productivity
65% of employers say that apprentices make their businesses more productive.
Lower Recruitment Costs
75% of apprentice employers have found that apprenticeships have helped lower recruitment costs.
Improved ability to attract good staff
55% of apprentice employers believe that better quality staff are attracted to their business as a result of employing apprentices.
Increased Employee Satisfaction
88% of apprentice employers believe they lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce leading to greater loyalty and quality of work.
Reduced Staff Turnover
80% of apprentice employers feel that apprentices reduce staff turnover.
Sources: 2011 British Chambers of Commerce, Populous research commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service and Productivity Matters, Centre for Economic and Business Research, 2013
Why Choose the Apprenticeship Bureau?
The Apprenticeship Bureau is part of Harlow College, we have a long history of providing good quality services. We provide:
A pipeline of talented people to fill your vacancies
A recruitment and matching service to make handling your vacancies easier and more cost effective
Well qualified and professional trainers to support your apprentices and wider business needs
We are recognised for our high quality training and education by professional and awarding organisations as well as Ofsted. We regularly secure repeat business from our employer base.
Hiring Your Apprentice
THE PROCESS TO HIRING YOUR APPRENTICE
- advise you on the Apprenticeship that would suit your role and give you all the information you need
- take details of your vacancy by phone, email or face-to-face meeting if you'd prefer
- advertise your vacancy on national websites and our Harlow College website
- shortlist candidates and send you the applications
- arrange the interviews
- enrol your apprentice
- give us details of your job role
- decide who you want to interview
- choose a successful candidate
Our assessors will visit to complete all the necessary paperwork with you
Costs and Fees
The costs of hiring an apprentice
25+
£7.50
/hour
21-24
£7.05
/hour
18-20
£5.60
/hour
U18
£4.05
/hour
Apprentice
£3.50
/hour
Apprentice Minimum Wage Details
This rate is for apprentices of any age that are in their first year of their Apprenticeship.
An apprentice in the second year of their Apprenticeship who is aged 19 or over, must be paid the National Minimum Wage for their age.
If an apprentice turns 19 during the second year, they must be paid the National Minimum Wage for their age from the date of their birthday and for the remainder of their Apprenticeship.
You can pay your apprentices a salary of your choosing, as long as you meet the minimum hourly rate.
You must page your apprentice for their time in training, as well as their time at work.
What are my responsibilities as an employer?
An apprentice is an employee of your company. As the employer you must give your apprentice an induction into their role and provide on-the-job training. You must meet these requirements:
Issue a contract of employment and pay at least the Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage, although many businesses pay more to attract the best talent
Provide apprentices with the same benefits as other employees for example holiday and sickness benefit
Minimum hours of employment should be at least 30 hours a week
You must provide 20% off the job training for your apprentice
All apprentices must have an Apprenticeship Agreement in place
Training Costs
Funding is available towards the training costs of an Apprentice. The size of the contribution varies depending on the size of your organisation, the age of your apprentice and the occupational area in which you require training.
You may be eligible for the full cost of training to be paid by the government, you may have to pay 10% of the training cost or you may have access to your apprenticeship levy if you are a large employer.
You may be entitled to incentives for employing a young person.
Apprenticeships We Offer
Business & Administration
These Apprenticeships are designed to meet the skills needs of employers by attracting new talent to their organisations or to up-skill their current workforce.
Whether your chose to follow an Apprenticeship Framework or Standard we offer a range of Apprenticeships from L2 – L5
Your Apprentice will benefit from:
- The highest quality of teaching by qualified and experienced industry experts
- Classroom based study in a group environment developing further their team working ability, confidence and communication skills
- Maths and English teaching essential to underpin and support workplace knowledge
- Learning at your premises by agreement
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting and advising you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Engineering
Automotive
At Harlow College, we go above and beyond to ensure that apprentices successfully leave us with an employment edge, a unique combination of high quality education and the real world skills employers require.
Your Automotive Apprentice will benefit from:
- An extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and industry experienced delivery team
- Fully equipped state of the art workshop, engaging learners with industry standard environments
- High quality industry standard servicing bays
- Maths and English teaching essential to underpin and support workplace knowledge
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting and advising you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Computing & IT
At Harlow College we offer a wide range of computing and IT Apprenticeship Frameworks and Standards to suit your business needs. These range from L2 – L4
Your Apprentice will benefit from:
- The highest quality of teaching by qualified and experienced industry experts
- Classroom based study in a group environment developing further their team working ability, confidence and communication skills.
- Classroom based study using Microsoft official curriculum based resources
- Microsoft IT Academy E-learning resources to support learning
- A well-equipped workshop where ‘hands-on’ skills will be honed
- An e-portfolio system to enhance and manage learning & to gather evidence for end point assessment
- Maths and English teaching essential to underpin and support workplace knowledge.
- Learning at your premises by agreement
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting and advising you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Construction
Harlow College has recently secured a £200,000 investment for new technology in the construction area. We offer a range of construction Apprenticeship Frameworks and Standards at L2 & L3 – Site Carpentry, Wood Occupations (Architectural Joinery), Property Maintenance and Trowel Occupations – Brickwork.
Your Apprentice will benefit from:
- An extremely knowledgeable and industrially experienced delivery team
- Large workshops
- Modern and high quality industry standard hand and power tools
As the employer you will receive regular updates on the progress of your apprentice. You will also have the opportunity to play an active role in the development of education within the construction industry by joining our advisory panel.
We are responsive to the needs of the employers we work with and our aim is to ensure that when your apprentice successfully leaves us they are a valued member of your workforce.
Electrical
At Harlow College, we go above and beyond to ensure that apprentices successfully leave us with an employment edge, a unique combination of high quality education and the real world skills employers require.
Your apprentice will benefit from:
- An extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and industry experienced delivery team
- Fully equipped state of the art workshop, engaging learners with industry standard environments
- High quality industry standard equipment
- Maths and English teaching essential to underpin and support workplace knowledge
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named learning co-ordinator supporting you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear, concise communications
- our employer forum
Health, Childcare & Education
We offer a wide range of Apprenticeship programmes in the Health Care, Childcare and Education sectors.
These Apprenticeships are designed to meet the skills needs of employers by attracting new talent to their organisations or to up-skill their current workforce.
Whether your chose to follow an Apprenticeship Framework or Standard we offer a range of Apprenticeships from L2 – L5
Harlow College provides a welcoming learning environment and your apprentice will benefit from:
- Highly qualified and experienced staff who have a wealth of industry experience and knowledge
- Delivery that takes place both on and off the job, with the times agreed to be flexible around working life
- 1-2-1 guidance and support including email and telephone support
- Classroom based study with access to computers, e-learning packages. essential Maths and English teaching and an e-portfolio system
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting /guiding you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Hairdressing & Barbering
These Apprenticeships are designed to meet the skills needs of employers by attracting new talent to their organisations or to up-skill their current workforce.
Your Hairdressing / Barbering Apprentice will benefit from:
- Motivated, professional, industry experienced, teacher trained staff
- Well -appointed busy salons reflecting industry standards enabling positive skills and behaviours to be learnt
- Well-resourced classrooms equipped with the latest computer technology for the delivery of theory
- A well structured day release training programme for the delivery of City and Guilds qualifications
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Retail & Customer Service
These Apprenticeships are designed to meet the skills needs of employers by attracting new talent to their organisations or to up-skill their current workforce.
Whether your chose to follow an Apprenticeship Framework or Standard we offer a range of Apprenticeships from L2 – L4.
Your apprentice will benefit from:
- The highest quality of teaching by qualified and experienced industry experts
- Classroom based study in a group environment developing further their team working ability, confidence and communication skills.
- Maths and English teaching essential to underpin and support workplace knowledge.
- Learning at your premises by agreement
As part of our employer service you will benefit from:
- a named advisor supporting and advising you through the training process to successful completion
- apprentice progress reports
- regular, clear and concise communications
- our employer forum
Apprenticeship Reforms
What are the Apprenticeship Reforms?
Apprenticeships are changing with the following key aims:
- To give employers greater control over the design of apprenticeships so they meet the needs of the industry
- To increase the quality of apprenticeships including end point assessment and grading
- To make apprenticeships more simple to understand
Key aspects of the Reforms
- The transition from frameworks to apprenticeship standards
- The introduction of the apprenticeship levy from May 2017 – this tax will fund apprenticeship delivery and assessment
- The development of the Apprenticeship Service –a web-based platform that businesses will use to access information about apprenticeship providers and draw down on their levy
- Develop apprenticeship quality assurance for the delivery of training and end point assessments
The Apprenticeship Levy
- From May 2017 this applies to all public and private sector employers in the UK with a pay bill in excess of £3,000,000
- Will be 0.5% of PAYE wage bill
- There is a £15,000 allowance to offset against levy payment
- Levy payers receive a 10% top up on their payment from the government
- Employers with a wage bill less than £3,000,000 (non-levy payer) will continue to receive funding for Apprentices