Apprenticeships

All apprentices are entitled to the standard National Minimum Wage for their age, however many employers pay over this.

The National Minimum Wage for apprentices can be found here.

Top tip: If you are aged 19 or over and complete your first year, your pay must legally increase to the standard minimum wage for your age group.

You will be paid for 100% of your time including college days.

Yes, like any employee you will be entitled to paid holiday and sick leave. This will be outlined in your contract of employment.

No, by law, the cost of your apprenticeship training and assessments is entirely covered by the government and your employer. This is one of the biggest benefits of choosing an apprenticeship pathway: you get a debt-free, nationally recognised qualification.

Here’s how the financial side works for you:

• Zero tuition fees or student debt: Unlike going to university or taking certain adult education courses, there are no student loans to fill out and no tuition fee invoices will ever be sent to you.
• Your employer cannot charge you: it is illegal for an employer to deduct the cost of your college training, exams, or End Point Assessment (EPA) from your wages. Even if you choose to leave the apprenticeship early, the company cannot legally force you to pay back the training costs.
• Essential equipment and uniform: your employer is required to provide any vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or specialist uniform required to do your job safely at no cost to you.
• Study materials: The college provides the learning resources and workshops. You will generally only need to cover your own standard stationery, a notebook/laptop and everyday travel expenses to get to work and campus.

Yes, apprentices are eligible to access student discount schemes such as the TOTUM Apprenticeship Card for student discounts as well as the Apprentice Oyster Card (London) and reduced train fares with the 16-17 Saver Card or 16-25 and 26-30 National Railcards.

The most common structure is the 4-1 split, where you spend four days a week at work with your employer and one day a week on campus at college. However, depending on the industry and the specific course, your schedule might look a bit different:

• Day Release (Most Common): You attend college one set day every week and work the other four days.
• Block Release: You work full-time for several consecutive weeks or months, and then spend a full, uninterrupted week at college to complete your intense practical or theoretical training.
• Online/Workplace Delivery: For some sectors, you spend all five days at work, and a college assessor comes out to visit you in the workplace to deliver training and assess your progress.

Top tip: By law, at least 20% of your normal working hours must be spent on “off-the-job” training (which includes your college day, assignments and learning new skills at work).

Your schedule is a joint agreement organised by your employer and the college Apprenticeship team before you even sign your contract.

• The college will inform your employer exactly which day(s) you need to be on campus. Your employer is then legally required to release you from work on those days and they must still pay you your normal hourly wage while you are in college.
• Your working hours are set by your employer and must comply with UK working time regulations. If you are under 18, you cannot legally work more than 40 hours a week.
• Your college timetable is determined by the college based on when your specific course tutors and workshop spaces are available.

If you are unhappy or experiencing issues at work, you are not trapped. Your first step should always be to speak with your dedicated Apprenticeship Coach, who acts as a neutral mediator to help resolve the conflict. If the situation cannot be fixed, the college will support you in safely leaving that workplace and will help you look for a new employer so you can transfer your credits and continue your training without starting over.

No, it is not legally guaranteed, but the odds are heavily in your favour. Legally, your apprenticeship contract ends once your training and End Point Assessment (EPA) are complete. However, because employers invest significant time and money into training you to work exactly the way their business operates, the vast majority (around 90% in the UK) are offered permanent contracts immediately upon completion. 

If your employer goes out of business or makes you redundant, the college and the government have a strict safety net to protect your education.

• Your training will not stop immediately. The college will continue to deliver your classroom learning and will give you a dedicated grace period (usually up to 12 weeks) to find a new placement.
• The government will continue to fund your college training during this transition period, and your tutors will use their local industry networks to help you secure a replacement employer as quickly as possible.

This is a normal part of the process since apprenticeship vacancies are highly competitive job applications. If you aren’t selected, the college Apprenticeships team won’t just leave you stranded. We will keep your details and let you know if another suitable vacancy becomes available with one of our employer partners.

Top Tip: We strongly advise applying for a full-time college course in your chosen subject as a “Plan B.” This guarantees you a spot on campus in September while you continue your job hunt.

Yes, this is the fastest way to get started. If a local business or your current employer has agreed to hire you as an apprentice, you need to fill out our Apprenticeship enquiry form and provide their contact details. Our Apprenticeship team will contact them to handle the legalities, verify the workplace is safe, set up the funding and get you enrolled.

Entry requirements vary depending on the level of the apprenticeship you are applying for:

• Level 2 (Intermediate): Usually requires a minimum of 2 – 3 GCSEs at grades 3–1, or a strong willingness to learn. You will often need to show a basic baseline in English and maths.
• Level 3 (Advanced): Generally requires 4 – 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, almost always including English and maths.

Top tip: Some technical sectors, like Engineering or Accountancy, may specifically require a grade 4 or 5 in Higher Maths.

If you don’t achieve a grade 4 in English and maths, you will study alongside your normal apprenticeship training.

The college will provide extra tutoring to help you pass these exams, which are entirely free and designed to give you the practical, real-world math and literacy skills needed for your job. You just need to pass them before you can complete your final apprenticeship assessment.

You can apply for a full-time college course while seeking an apprenticeship however you cannot be enrolled onto both. If you are currently in full-time education and wish to move to an apprenticeship, you must withdraw your place at your current college before starting your apprenticeship. Please inform your employer and current provider if this is the case.

Yes, even though you spend the majority of your week in the workplace, you are still officially registered as a student at the college. You have the exact same rights, perks and access as any full-time student.

When you are on campus (or even on your days off from work), you are fully encouraged to use:

• The college quiet study spaces
• On-site facilities, cafe and student spaces.
• Be part of the student voice, clubs and societies.
• Student discounts (you can apply for an apprentice travel card or discount apps).

You will never be left to struggle alone. Because apprenticeships involve balancing a job with studying, colleges have a dedicated support system to keep you on track:

• Your Apprenticeship Training Coach: This is your dedicated mentor from the college. They will visit you at your workplace every few weeks to check on your progress, help you connect your practical job tasks to your college coursework and make sure you aren’t feeling overwhelmed.

• The College Additional Learning Support Team: If you struggle with writing essays, preparing for exams, or managing your time, you can access the college’s main Learning Support Hub. From here, they can assess if you are eligible to receive additional support and exam access arrangements (such as extra time or a quiet room) if you have a learning difficulty like dyslexia.

• Your Employer’s Role: The college works closely with your employer. If you are falling behind on your college work, the college will speak to your employer to ensure you are getting your legally required 20% “off-the-job” training time during the work week to catch up on your studies.

You will be assigned a dedicated member of the Apprenticeship team to monitor your wellbeing in the workplace.

Yes, Level 3 apprenticeships carry the exact same UCAS points as A Levels for university progression. You could also consider applying for a Level 4/5 apprenticeship degree or higher apprenticeship combining university-level qualifications with on-the-job training and paid employment.