Apprentice FAQs

As an apprentice, you are entitled to the National Apprentice Wage. This is set at an hourly rate of £5.28, however many employers choose to pay more than this or increase the rate after the employee has been within the company for a certain amount of time. 

An apprenticeship is a government funded programme combining practical training in a paid role with theoretical study in the classroom. Designed for individuals over the age of 16, as an apprentice you will finish with a nationally recognised qualification and be equipped with the skills and experience for future employment. Experiencing new challenges, an apprenticeship is a real alternative to getting onto the career ladder without concerns over debt from attending University. 

Most apprentices are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week; however, this figure will depend on the type of apprenticeship you are doing. This generally equates to spending 4 days in work and 1 day in College. During this period, you are entitled to a minimum of 20 holidays per year (excluding bank holidays) from your employer. 

Throughout your apprenticeship you will receive on-the-job training which allows you to achieve a qualification (NVQ, Award, Certificate or Diploma). With Northern Skills or TTE, you will gain skills that can only be developed from being in a real work environment, from working in teams and solving problems, to communication and using technology. 

Earning while you learn, you will also be allocated a personal assessor who will come to your place of work to give you feedback and continued support as you progress within your role. 

Depending on the course and level you are working towards, apprenticeships can last anywhere between 1-4 years. This will be specified when you are applying for the role.

A ‘framework’ developed by Sector Skills Councils; an apprenticeship is a set of qualifications that shows you have experience in your area of interest.

There are three different levels of apprenticeships on offer through Northern Skills:

• Intermediate Level Apprenticeship (learning towards level 2 – equivalent to five GCSE’s at grade C or one A level)
• Advanced Level Apprenticeship (learning towards level 3 – equivalent to two A Levels)
• Higher Level Apprenticeship (learning towards level 4- equivalent to a Foundation Degree)

Most apprenticeships include four areas within the ‘framework’:

• National vocational qualification (NVQ)
• Knowledge-based qualification – for example, a higher national certificate (HNC), higher national diploma (HND) or foundation degree
• Functional skills qualification in areas such as maths, English or ICT
• Technical certificate- a BTEC or City & Guilds progression award

You can take a look at our current apprenticeship vacancies, to see if any of the employers currently hiring stand out to you. Or you can approach a local business of interest to see if they could take you on as an apprentice, and we can support both you and the employer through that process.

Yes, we can! Our team run regular CV and interview help sessions for budding apprentices. Contact our team on info@northernskills.co.uk to book on to a session.

On many occasions, employers may choose to hire an apprentice as a full-time member of staff following completion of their apprenticeship. Take a look at our apprentice success stories to see where other apprentices have gone in their career after completing their qualification.