UK CURRICULUM & LEARNING
APPRENTICESHIP WAGE As employees of the company, apprentices will earn at least the minimum wage, but many employers pay significantly more. Apprentices aged 19 or under, or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship, are entitled to an hourly rate of £3.50. Apprentices aged 19 or over, who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship, are entitled to an hourly rate equivalent to the National Minimum Wage for their age (currently between £5.90 and £7.83 in April 2018). National Minimum Wage rates change every April. Some employers may provide additional entitlements, such as an annual bonus, paid overtime, or funding for childcare or transport. Apprentices may also be given an allowance for essential books, clothing and equipment, and receive the same benefits as other employees, such as pension contributions, a subsidised canteen or leisure facilities.
TYPES OF APPRENTICESHIP
There are four levels of apprenticeship, depending on skills and qualifications:
• Intermediate (Level 2; similar to studying five GCSEs) • Advanced (Level 3; similar to studying two A Levels) • Higher (Levels 4–7; similar to studying a Level 4 National Vocational Qualification, a Higher National Diploma or a Foundation Degree)
• Degree (Levels 6–7; similar to studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree)
APPRENTICESHIP REFORM Since 2013, the government has been pushing through
a raft of reforms, which aim to improve the quality of apprenticeships and ensure that they are regarded as a genuine alternative to university. These include:
• A government target of 3 million new apprenticeship starts by 2020
• New Apprenticeship Standards designed by employers around specific occupations with a final assessment
• The Apprenticeship Levy (introduced in April 2017) – Employers who have wage bills of over £3 million are required to pay 0.5 per cent of their pay bill as a levy to fund apprenticeships
• To ensure that the apprenticeship system provides the skills that are most needed, up to 20 new professional and technical routes are being created
• The Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has been established to ensure that employers continue to drive up quality
In addition, apprentices may have better long-term salary and career prospects. According to the government’s Apprenticeships Evaluation 2017 survey of learners, around 85 per cent of apprentices believe that their career prospects have improved.
Apprentices can finish their training with a variety of national qualifications, including GCSE-level qualifications; NVQs; technical certificates, such as a BTEC; and academic qualifications, such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND), a foundation degree, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree. One of the best places to start is www.
findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch,a platform for searching and applying for apprenticeships in England.
HOW DO APPRENTICESHIPS WORK? Apprentices work for around 30 hours a week. An apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of 12 months, but can continue for up to four years, depending on previous work experience. Someone who has been in paid employment before starting an apprenticeship may take less time to complete it than someone who is new to an industry. Most of the training is given through the job, with the
remainder taking place at college or sometimes through e-learning. All apprenticeships should involve studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. Either at college or remotely at home, apprentices are taught the theory they need to do their job and the information they will need for their exam.
One of the main advantages of apprenticeships is gaining a qualification with real-life work experience. There is also a strong possibility that the employer will retain the apprentice as a permanent employee at the end of the apprenticeship.
WHY CHOOSE AN APPRENTICESHIP? Some of the key reasons for choosing an apprenticeship
are:
• To experience a subject area at first hand before committing to a career
• To avoid accumulating thousands of pounds of debt in student fees
• To have the opportunity to study for a degree with the employer later on, or even study for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Keep Informed |
relocateglobal.com | 95
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
