Apprenticeships FAQs
How long does an apprenticeship take to complete?
An apprenticeship takes a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 6 years depending on the level of apprenticeship and which industry sector you are training.
Would I be an employee during my apprenticeship?
Yes, as an apprentice you have the same employment rights as a present member of staff. The only difference is you will have contractual end date to your employment, training programme.
Do I get holiday when doing an apprenticeship?
The short answer is yes, you will receive at least 20 days paid holiday per year plus national/public holidays.
Are there a minimum number of hours I must work?
You are required to work full time, which would be a minimum of 30 hours per week. If you are aged 18 or under, you will not be allowed to work more than 40 hours per week, or more than 8 hours per day.
Do I have to be aged between 16-24 to do an apprenticeship?
No, commonly apprentices are between this age group as apprenticeships are seen as an alternative to university. However, there is no upper age limit for apprenticeships. In fact, it is becoming common practise now for employers to train up existing members of staff through the apprenticeship route to help further their career development.
Can I get a degree from doing an apprenticeship?
Yes, most completed apprenticeships will provide you with either an NVQ, HNC or a HND. But higher apprenticeships give you the opportunity to train and study for a foundation degree or even an honours degree. You can also do a Degree Apprenticeship to study towards either a Bachelors or Master’s degree, during your degree apprenticeship you will be required to study part-time with a university.
How much will I be paid as an apprentice?
The current national minimum wage for an apprentice under the age of 19 or in your first year of your apprenticeship is £4.81. After the age of 19 or 18 if you have completed your first year of your apprenticeship you will be entitled to the working National Minimum Wage.
Can I be an apprentice if I am undertaking another course?
For an employer to be eligible to take you on as an apprentice you can not be undertaking another apprenticeship programme, be undertaking training funded through AEB and be in receipt of any other direct DfE funding during their apprenticeship programme; this includes any other DfE funded FE/HE programme including programmes funded by a student loan.
Can I transfer from a full-time programme to an apprenticeship?
If during your full-time programme you are offered an apprenticeship by an employer then you need to speak to the apprenticeship team when the next in-take will be for the apprenticeship standard you wish to transfer over to as we can accommodate this for specific areas at specific times of the year
What is End Point Assessment (EPA)?
End point assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. It is an impartial assessment of whether you apprentice has developed the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlines in the apprenticeship standard. Each standard will have a different EPA with a plan that describes how the apprentices will be tested against the appropriate criteria, using suitable methods such as; a practical assessment, an interview, a project, written and/or multiple-choice test, presentation or professional discussion.
What is 20% off the job hours:
20% off the job hours are the minimum amount of time that should be spent on occupational off-the-job training during an apprenticeship. This usually amounts to 1 day which could be the day release element of your programme along with all the time in the workplace where you are putting your new skills into practice. This will be discussed and agreed on during the enrolment process and will be tracked and monitored throughout your learner journey.
Do I need to complete maths and English?
All apprenticeship standards have a minimum requirement for maths and English depending on the standard you will be undertaking. For most apprenticeship you will need to achieve functional skills level 2 in both maths and English before you can go through to end point assessment. Please ask the apprenticeship team what the requirement is for the standard you wish to take.
