Key Information for Apprentices

An apprenticeship is a job with training. Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. As an apprentice, you can earn as you learn and gain practical skills.

Apprentices will receive, at a minimum, the national minimum wage. However, in many cases the employer chooses to pay more than this, or after the employee has been with the company for a certain period of time.

• You will experience new and different challenges
• Your existing skills and knowledge are recognised and can help you gain a qualification faster
• You will get support when you need it
• You will gain skills and knowledge which can be used across a range of jobs and industries
• You will be earning a regular income whilst getting the training you need to further your career

As long as you are 16 and have left school, you can enroll at any time throughout the year.

Each apprenticeship is different. Your job role will be your main source of learning. Your manager will be fully consulted about the type of work you will need to carry out and this will form part of your job role assessment. Apprenticeships can consists of workshops, one-to-one support, day release or block release sessions. To find out more detail about our methods of delivery and learning, click here.

When an apprentice reaches gateway, it is the opportunity for the provider and employer to agree whether the apprentice is ready to take their end point assessment. Detailed information on the EPA can be found here.

Functional skills are qualifications that have been developed by government to improve English, mathematics, and IT skills. Detailed information on functional skills can be found here.

All apprentices will need to spend 20% of your time at work completing ‘off-the-job’ training which is relevant to your apprenticeship. Off-the-job training is a learning activity that happens outside of your normal duties. For detailed information about off-the-job training, click here.

Smart Assessor is the digital platform we use to monitor an apprentice’s progress. All apprentices will have access to a Smart Assessor account and will be able to upload evidence, journal entries and develop their portfolios ready for assessment. For full detail on Smart Assessor, click here.