Apprenticeships offer a way to grow your workforce by allowing you to develop the skills your business requires. Here are some practical tips for employers looking to hire an apprentice in England.

• Choose an apprenticeships route for an apprenticeship in your industry and at a suitable level.
• Find an training provider that offers training for the apprenticeship you’ve chosen.
• Check what funding is available.
• Advertise your apprenticeship – your training organisation will do this for you through the find an apprenticeship
• Select your apprentice and make an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement with them.

For details on what UKFT is doing in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, read more here.

Employing an apprentice

You are responsible for paying your apprentice’s wage and giving them their contract of employment. You must pay apprentices at least the minimum wage rate.

The National Minimum Wage calculator works out the exact amount that you have to pay an employee.

Apprentices must work towards an approved apprenticeship standard or framework. Their training must last at least 12 months.

They must be employed in a real job that gives them the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to pass their assessment.

You must pay your apprentice for time spent training or studying for their apprenticeship, whether while at work or at a college or training organisation.

You must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:

• paid holidays
• sick pay
• any benefits you offer such as childcare voucher schemes
• any support you offer such as coaching or mentoring

From the 1^st April 2019, all apprentices under the age of nineteen and any apprentice, regardless of age, in the first year of their apprenticeship are to be paid at the National Apprentice minimum wage of £3.90 per hour.

After the first year of training the minimum hourly rate will revert to –

• Under 18 – £4.35
• 18 to 20 – £6.15
• 21 and over – £7.70

Please note – These are the official minimum wage rates but in order to attract the best talent, UKFT encourages employers to pay above these rates.