Apprenticeships

Apprentices are aged 16 or over and combine working with studying to gain skills and knowledge in a specific job.

Apprentices can be new or current employees. They are employed as full-time members of staff and follow an approved industry standard while working toward a nationally recognised qualification. 

Apprentices will be paid the apprentice National Minimum Wage. However, many employers pay more!

As an apprentice you will:

• Work with experienced staff
• Work in a real job for at least 30 hours per week
• Study an apprenticeship designed and respected by industry expert employers
• Learn job-specific skills at workplace
• Get paid to train job specific knowledge and skills plus learn English, math and ICT
• Get time for training or study during the working week at the college (at least 20% of normal working hours)
• Achieve a recognised qualification and work experience to progress quicker in your chosen career.

Usually, apprentices will be placed with an employer working full time 4 days per week with 1 day a week college attendance studying the qualification.

Our HRUC Account Manager, Industry-Trained Assessor and Learning Advocate support employers and the apprentice to deliver our training programme.

Anyone aged 16 years and over is eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. You must be living in the UK for at least 3 years or have permanent residency status in the UK.

So no matter what your plan is, apprenticeships help you develop your:

• Career after Year 11
• Career progression at work
• Career after a break
• Career change.

Apprentices must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

There’s different rates of pay for apprentices depending on age and what year of their apprenticeship they’ve completed. The contract of employment should make it clear what wage the apprentice will be paid and for what hours.

• Aged 16 to 18: the current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £6.50 per hour
• Aged 19 or over and in their first year: the current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £6.50 per hour
• Aged 19 or over and have completed 12 months: apprentices will be entitled to the Apprentice National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age.

Employers please use the National Minimum Wage and Living Wage calculator to check if you are paying your apprentices correctly.

Many employers may pay more than the national minimum.

You could be studying at our Hayes, Uxbridge, Harrow or Richmond campuses depending on which qualification you are studying.

Minimum apprenticeship duration is 12 to 8 months, however programme duration varies depending on which qualification you are studying. Apprenticeship duration can be found on our subject area information pages.

There are several steps to becoming an apprentice.

Unemployed apprentices:

• Apply for a vacancy on our website
• Robust initial interview · Initial assessment
• Initial scan
• Curriculum interview
• Set individual end date
• Once approved by curriculum, then your CV needs to be sent to the employer for interview consideration
• If you get through the interview successfully, you start your apprenticeship after making an apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement with your employer.

Employed apprentices:

• Robust initial interview
• Curriculum interview to confirm suitability
• Assess job role to see if it is fit for purpose to cover assessment range
• Complete skills scan
• Set individual end date
• Start your apprenticeship.

For further information on vacancies, top tips, including advice for job seekers and parents check out HRUC Apprenticeship and Skills