Parents FAQ

An apprenticeship is a paid job that involves the completion of an apprenticeship course alongside a full-time job, meaning apprentices can earn while they learn and gain real-world on-the-job experience. All of the  courses featured on Apprentice Connections are delivered by experienced tutors either at the apprentice’s place of work or at specialist training centres.

An apprenticeship is a fantastic alternative to college or university, allowing individuals to gain invaluable hands on experience alongside a nationally recognised certificate, equipping them with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in their career.

To qualify for an apprenticeship, the following criteria must be met: 

• be aged 16+ at the time of enrolment 
• be a UK or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen, or have lived in the UK or EEA for the past three consecutive years 
• not already be in full-time education at the point of enrolment 
• not already hold a qualification at Level 4 or above in the same area that they wish to study.

Apprentice wages start at a minimum of £3.70 per hour, however many employers pay more, especially if they wish to attract the best apprentices.

Apprentices are entitled to at least 28 days annual leave per year – the same statutory minimum as normal employees. Employers often subtract the 8 public (bank) holidays from this allowance each year.

This will vary based upon the training provider. Some providers provide all of their training at bespoke training centres away from the apprentices' normal place of employment. For other training providers, dedicated tutors will regularly visit the apprentice’s workplace to deliver flexible training on a one-to-one basis at their company. Some training providers operate using a combination of both methods. Whether training is provided at the place of employment or at a dedicated training centre, most training providers also now provide e-training modules allowing apprentices to gain access to additional training and support material via the Internet.

Apprenticeships are available in a range of different sectors and range from short courses to courses which take four years to complete. For a full list of the courses available click here, or to search our live apprenticeship vacancies visit our Job Search page here.

In order to complete an apprenticeship, an apprentice must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Our course providers work hard to ensure each individual finds a role that suits their personality and meets their career aspirations. You can browse our current apprenticeship vacancies our Job Search page.

An apprenticeship typically lasts one year, although some courses are condensed into a shorter period and some higher degree level apprenticeships can last up to 4 years.

At the end of the apprenticeship course, the employer will decide whether they will continue to employ the individual as a full-time member of staff and they will have the opportunity to decide which steps they take next. Most of our apprentices choose to continue working at the same company, but others decide to move on and apply their new skills and knowledge elsewhere. Some apprentices may also wish to progress onto a further training course vua Apprentice Connections, and if so their tutor will advise them of what the best step is to take.

Many of our training providers provide additional support to apprentices with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and those with physical disabilities such as visual or hearing impairments. Course providers can provide resources such as a scribe or large-print documents and can facilitate other reasonable adjustments to ensure that an apprentice with learning difficulties or physical disability is not at a disadvantage when completing the course. If you would like to find out more about the additional learning support available, please contact the training provider(s) for the course your child wishes to follow.