Apprenticeships offer a robust approach to work-based learning by ensuring that learners gain practical skills, experience and knowledge to meet organisational needs now and in the future, through offering both on and off the job learning. Employers can offer apprenticeships to new entrants or use them to grow talent from among current employees.
Apprentices tend to be keen, flexible, motivated and loyal to the organisation that has invested in them. They have typically chosen a vocational approach to developing their career in your business. Apprenticeships aid employee retention as their commitment and motivation will include completing the qualification. Employers who have an established apprenticeship programme reported that productivity in their workplace improved by 76%.
Explore the financial incentives available to employers hiring apprentices below and find out what support your business could receive.
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What subjects/industries do apprenticeships cover?
Apprenticeships have come a long way from their traditional routes and are offered from Level 2 up to Degree and Master's Degree. Any organisation can benefit from the Apprenticeship Programmes, which include subjects such as:
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Customer Service
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Early Years Education
- Engineering
- Electrical Installation
- Leadership and Management
- Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
- Plumbing and Domestic Heating
- and more
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Who is eligible for an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships can be used to retrain or upskill your existing staff of any age (over 16) and are a great way of attracting new talent.
Apprentices:
- can be any age as long as they are over 16.
- should be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
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How are apprenticeships delivered?
Delivery of an apprenticeship is through both on-and-off-the-job learning and assessment. Apprentices must complete a minimum of 6 hours per week on off-the-job training. This may be delivered at the College or within the workplace and varies between programmes. We will discuss this with you during the setting-up of the programme.
Some apprenticeships such as Engineering, Electrical, Motor Vehicle and Accountancy require attendance at Newbury College for one day per week.
You will be assigned a Development Coach (Assessor) who will meet with you and your apprentice regularly to undertake assessments in the workplace.
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What financial incentives are available for employers?
Taking on an apprentice is an investment in your workforce, and there is financial support available to help.
Depending on your organisation and the apprentice you recruit, you could be eligible for government payments towards the cost of taking on an apprentice. Where the eligibility criteria are met, more than one payment may be available for the same apprentice, with support of up to £8,000 for non-levy-paying employers and £6,000 for levy-paying employers.
£1,000 Employer Payment: Employers may receive a £1,000 payment when they recruit an apprentice aged 16 to 18, or an apprentice aged under 25 who is in or has been in care, or has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Up to £2,000 Hiring Payment: If you are a non-levy-paying employer recruiting a new apprentice aged 16 to 24, you could receive a hiring payment of up to £2,000.
£2,000 Foundation Apprenticeship Payment: Employers recruiting a foundation apprentice aged 16 to 21 could receive a £2,000 payment. This is also available for eligible apprentices under 25 who have an EHC plan, are in or have been in care, or are in prison or leaving prison.
£3,000 Youth Jobs Grant: The Youth Jobs Grant provides employers with £3,000 when they recruit an eligible young person aged 18 to 24 who has been out of work and claiming Universal Credit for six months or more.
You could benefit from more than one payment
These incentives can make recruiting and developing new talent even more affordable. Where eligible, employers can combine payments for the same apprentice, helping you get even more from your investment in apprenticeships.
In addition to these payments, government funding can cover 100% of apprenticeship training and assessment costs for apprentices aged 16 to 24, up to the relevant funding band maximum and subject to the funding rules. Employers may also benefit from National Insurance savings for eligible apprentices under 25, subject to the relevant conditions.
Discover the support available to your business. Get in touch with our Apprenticeships team and we’ll help you explore the opportunities available
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How do I recruit an apprentice?
We are here to help you at every step. If you are considering recruiting an Apprentice or offering the opportunity to an existing member of staff we will work with you to identify the most appropriate apprenticeship and recruit the best candidate.
We will support your recruitment campaign to help generate applications by:
- utilising the Digital Apprenticeship Service to manage or support your recruitment activity within the government's Find an Apprenticeship website.
- managing applications on your behalf or directing them to your vacancies or careers portals.
- promotion across our social media channels as vacancies go live.
- promotion to our database of registered apprenticeship applicants searching for suitable roles.
- promotion to our campus of suitable learners.
If you’d like to speak to a member of the Business Development Team to discuss your apprenticeship opportunity, email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or please call 01635 845229. You can speed up the process by Completing a Vacancy Profile, and a team member will be in touch.