1. Select the right Apprenticeship Standard

These are the underlying foundations from which every apprenticeship is built. There are an eye-watering number of Standards covering every industry imaginable and it is crucial to align the selection with the skills and capabilities of the role you wish to employ and train an apprentice in. Standards are available from level 2 – level 7 and each Standard has a typical duration. Level 2 for example takes 12-18 months whilst level 3 can take up to 42 months. The apprentice, at the end of the period, must then pass an End Point Assessment (EPA) to complete their programme (see point 10). As an employer, especially if new to apprenticeships, trying to find the exact Standard is a time consuming and a futile exercise. We can make the process far easier. Contact us early in the process, we will consult with you, assess your needs, and advise you on the Apprenticeship Standard options that meet your criteria.

2. Understand the funding

As an Employer, you fall into one of 2 groups.

Levy payers. Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million per year. You will pay 0.5% of your salary bill into your levy pot and the government will top-up that amount each month by 10%. 

Non-levy payers. Employers with a payroll under £3 million per year. The Government will pay 95% of the training cost and you will contribute the remaining 5%, this is called co-investment. For example, co-investment for a level 3 Standard with a funding maximum of £21,000 would be £1050. If you employ under 50 people and the apprentice is under 19 on the first day of the apprenticeship then you will be exempt from co-investment.

In both cases, funding covers the training of the apprentice and cannot be used for wages, statutory licences to practice, travel and subsidiary costs, work placement programmes or any fees for setting up your apprenticeship scheme.