Services to Business

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships work for business

There are plenty of good reasons for businesses to sign up to our apprenticeship challenge by offering apprenticeships to new or existing staff.

Benefits for business

Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to recruit and train young people to meet the needs of your business. This is particularly true for small businesses which find the cost of staff overheads difficult to bear.

Apprenticeships allow businesses to fill skills gaps and build a skilled workforce, by delivering training designed around business needs and building knowledge and skills for the future.

Apprenticeships deliver real returns by improving productivity, making businesses more competitive and improving staff retention.

Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invests in them.

What is an apprenticeship?

A work-based training programme; mostly on-the-job with some additional training leading to a nationally recognised work-based qualification.

What does the employer do?

Employers are responsible for on-the-job training and they pay the apprentice's wages.

How much does an apprentice get paid?

Apprentices aged 19 and over get the national minimum wage. 16 to 18 year olds get a minimum of £2.65 an hour, but many businesses pay more. This is for time in work and training, and must be for at least 30 hours a week.

What about College training?

The additional training and the duration of the apprenticeship depend on the type and level of qualification the apprentice is working towards. The apprentice might go to College or tutors may go to the business.

What funding is available?

Funding is available for training from the National Apprenticeship Service. 100 percent funding is available for 16-18 year olds; 19-24 year olds get 50 percent; and if the apprentice is 25 or over, a contribution will be paid.

How are apprentices recruited?

Employers can advertise local vacancies on the official online recruitment website for England, which is managed by the National Apprenticeship Service. Vacancies can be viewed and applied for by candidates who register with this system. Strode College can help with recruitment and there is no charge to businesses for this online service.

What apprenticeships are available?

Apprenticeships are available in many different industries, with large national companies and smaller local businesses. Strode College currently provides training to support apprenticeships in:

Accounting
Barbering
Business Administration
Children & Young People
Construction
Creative & Cultural
Customer Service
Environmental Services
Hairdressing
Health & Social Care
Hospitality and Catering
Information Technology
Playwork
Retail
Sales
Sport

Find out more about the different types and levels of apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeship Prospectus for details about the training we provide.

How can Strode College help local businesses?

Strode staff can help businesses decide which apprenticeship is right for them, and explain what funding is available. They will help recruit an apprentice, or support existing staff into an apprenticeship; and they will agree and deliver a training plan to meet national quality standards.

Recruiting the right person

Strode works with the National Apprenticeship Service to make sure local vacancies are advertised on the official online recruitment website, and we can manage the recruitment process for you. Vacancies can be viewed and applied for by candidates who register on this recruitment system. There is no charge to businesses for this service.

What next?

For expert advice on how to make apprenticeships work for your business, call Strode College on 01458 844476 or email us.

The National Apprenticeship Service works to increase the number of employers providing apprenticeships in England. Their website provides detailed information about the apprenticeship programme for England: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Real stories

Read about 17 year old George Stott, apprentice Lifestyle Instructor with Avalon Leisure, training at Strode for an NVQ Level 2 in exercise and Fitness.

Sally Robertson is the Owner Manager of South West School Wear in Wells. After seven years running the business, she recently employed her first apprentice.

Kilver Court is an example of how businesses can evolve over time in response to changes in the local economy, and the new apprenticeship with Kilver Court shows how apprenticeships have changed over time.

Radio Interview

Listen to an interview with Graham Knight, head of Strode College's Business Development Unit about the College's involvement with the original 100 in Onehundred Apprenticeships campaign.

Download MP3 1.9MB