Hiring apprentices

Thinking about taking on an apprentice? Our guide for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will talk you through what you need to know…

Who can be an apprentice?

An apprentice can be a new or even a current employee (i.e. a plumber's mate or labourer who wants to learn a trade). Apprentices are aged over 16 and combine working on the tools with study through a recognised training provider towards a formal qualification.

What are your obligations as an employer?

Your apprentice must:

• Work with experienced staff
• Learn job-specific skills
• Study during their working week (for example, at a college or training organisation).

As an employer, you are responsible for arranging their contract of employment and paying their wages. Apprentices also have rights just like any other worker. This includes:

• Employing the apprentice in a real job that works towards an approved apprenticeship standard or framework. The role must give them the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to pass their assessments.
• Paying the apprentice for all the time spent training and studying, including any time at college.
• Paid holidays.
• Sick pay.
• Benefits you offer other employees such as childcare voucher schemes.
• Support you offer such as coaching or mentoring.
• Apprentices have the same employment rights as your other employees when it comes to redundancy too.

If you want to end the apprenticeship early for any other reason than redundancy it would be prudent to gain legal advice.

What do you have to pay your apprentice?

Apprentices are paid at least the minimum wage.

Check out the minimum wage rates here.

How long does the apprenticeship last for?

In England, the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician apprenticeship normally takes up to four years to achieve. However, there is flexibility to allow either those with pre-existing experience and qualifications, or particularly gifted students to finish earlier.

In Scotland, the Domestic Plumbing and Heating modern apprenticeship usually takes three years to complete.

In Wales, apprenticeships are split into NVQ Levels:

• NVQ Level 2 (the entry level qualification) usually lasts two years full-time.
• NVQ Level 3 is the industry recommended qualification and takes an additional year full-time, taking the total apprenticeship to three years.

In Northern Ireland, apprenticeships are also split into two levels:

• A Level 2 qualification would normally last two years full-time.
• A level 3 qualification would normally take a further two years.

However, there is some flexibility as the apprenticeship duration can vary and can be agreed between the apprentice, training contractor and employer.

How do you hire an apprentice?

While this process varies between regions there are many similarities.

Hiring an apprentice in England:

1) Find a framework
Since August 2020, the English system has moved over to the new Apprenticeship Standards. For the plumbing and heating industry you can find the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician trailblazer standard here which sits at Level 3.

2) Find a training provider
Next you need to find an apprenticeship training course for your apprentice. Find training providers in your area.

3) Find funding
Then you’ll need to check what funding is available. If you do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy, you will pay 5% towards the cost of training and assessing your apprentice. You could be eligible for extra funding depending on both your and your apprentice’s circumstances, which means the Government could pay 100% of training and assessing fees. Find out more on funding.

4) Find an apprentice
Then unless you already have an apprentice in mind, you’ll need to advertise your apprenticeship. Either you or your training provider can do this through the find an apprenticeship service.

5) Make an apprenticeship agreement
Select your apprentice and make an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement with them.

What is an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement?

As an employer, you must sign an apprenticeship agreement and a commitment statement with your apprentice. The apprenticeship agreement sets out what you agree to do for the apprentice e.g. what training you’ll give them, the length of their employment, their working conditions etc. You can either write your own apprentice agreement or download a template.

Additionally the commitment statement is signed with your apprentice and training provider. It has to include information such as a planned content and schedule for training, the expectations and offerings of the employer, training organisation and the apprentice, along with information on how to resolve queries or complaints.

Hiring an apprentice in Scotland

1) Fund your apprentice
While you will need to pay your apprentice their wages, Skills Development Scotland will contribute towards the cost of training. The amount of funding available varies per subject and per year. You can find more details here on the www.apprenticeships.scot website.

2) Find a Framework
The Domestic Plumbing and Heating Modern Apprenticeship is at SCQF Level 7 / SVQ Level 3. View the current Framework.

3) Find a learning provider
Next you need to find a learning provider in your area. Then

4) Find an apprentice
Then unless you already have an apprentice in mind, you’ll need to advertise your apprenticeship. You can advertise your Modern Apprenticeship vacancies for free.

Wales

1) Register your interest
First you can register your interest to take on an apprentice online via the Business Wales website. The Business Wales Skills Gateway team should then be in touch to let you know your options.

2) Choose a framework
Next you need to choose an apprenticeships framework or standard for an apprenticeship in your industry and at a suitable level by visiting businesswales.gov.wales

3) Find an approved training provider
Next you need to find an approved training provider that offers apprenticeships for the framework you’ve chosen via gov.wales

4) Check what funding is available
In Wales training costs are supported by the apprenticeships programme. The Welsh Government cover most of the training costs and work with external training providers to manage, deliver and assess all apprenticeships. It is important to work with a training provider at a very early stage in the process. They can provide help, support and guidance. Find out more about funding and incentives at gov.wales.

5) Find an apprentice
Unless you already have an apprentice in mind, you’ll need to advertise your apprenticeship via the Apprenticeship Vacancy Service.

6) Apprenticeship learning agreement
You may have a number of applicants. Once you have decided upon your ideal apprentice you’ll need to make an ‘apprenticeship learning agreement’ with them. A form can be download via the Business Wales website.

Northern Ireland

1) Find your framework and level
Choose an Apprenticeship framework and level. Visit www.nidirect.gov.uk for more info.

2) Find a training contractor
Choose and contact a training contractor via www.nidirect.gov.uk

3) Find funding
Funding for the directed (or 'off-the-job') training element is provided by the Department for the Economy (DfE) with support from the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020. For apprentices aged 16-24, DfE pays the full cost of the off-the-job training. For those aged 25 and over, the Department provides 50% of the costs for apprentices who wish to follow apprenticeships in priority sectors. Find out more at www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk

4) Find your apprentice
Unless you already have an apprentice in mind, you can advertise your apprenticeship opportunity for free using the apprenticeship portal Connect to Success; or through your local Jobs and Benefit Office, local newspapers or other recruitment services.

5) Apprentice training plan
Once you have recruited your apprentice, you need to agree an apprentice training plan. This is managed by your training contractor.

Advertise your apprenticeship vacancy on the CIPHE website

Did you know you can now advertise your apprenticeship vacancy for free on the CIPHE website? Fill in our apprentice vacancy form now.

More information on apprenticeships:

England

National Apprenticeship Service
Telephone: 0800 015 0600
www.gov.uk/take-on-an-apprentice

The Institute of Apprenticeships
www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/

Scotland

Apprenticeships Scotland
www.apprenticeships.scot

SNIPEF Training Services Ltd
www.becomeaplumber.com/apprenticeshipsscotland.html

Wales

Welsh Government
gov.wales/recruit-apprentice-guidance-employers

Business Wales
Telephone: 03000 603000
businesswales.gov.wales

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Government
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/apprenticeships-explained

www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk
Email: apprenticeships@economy-ni.gov.uk
www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/apprenticeships-explained-employers