Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great way to work, study and get qualified. Most of your time is spent training on the job, and the rest is spent working towards a qualification. Like other employees, you'll be part of the team and get paid a salary, but you'll also get specific study time each week.

Apprentices do not pay tuition fees, as the funding of the course is provided by the Apprenticeship Levy.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship enables you to develop professionally. You can gain hands-on work experience, while also studying to achieve a recognised qualification.

An apprentice will:

• work alongside experienced staff
• gain job-specific skills
• earn a wage and get employee benefits
• be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)

Apprenticeship qualification levels

There are a range of apprenticeships at different levels. The length and nature of the apprenticeship can vary, depending on the apprentice level and any previous qualifications or experience. 

There are four apprenticeship levels and each one has an equivalent education level:

• Level 2: equivalent to GCSEs - these apprenticeships provide basic knowledge and skills for specific jobs
• Level 3: equivalent to A Levels - these apprenticeships offer more specialised knowledge and skills
• Levels 4 to 7: can be equivalent to a foundation degree, a Higher National Certificate (HNC), or a Higher National Diploma (HND) - these apprenticeships focus on higher-level professional skills
• Levels 6 to 7: can lead to either a bachelor's or master's degree

Some apprenticeships will require specific qualifications, for example GCSE English and Maths. Some apprenticeships may give you extra training to meet these qualification requirements. For higher or degree apprenticeships (levels 4 to 7), you may also need to meet academic requirements.

Taking an Apprenticeship in England

You can find apprenticeships for lots of different jobs in a wide range of industries. From hands-on roles like engineering or care to roles such as law or project management.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship (in England), you need to:

• be aged 16 or over
• have the Right To Work in the UK and be living in England, the British Overseas Territories, or Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man), for a minimum of 3 years
• not in full-time education
• have an employment contract that covers the full duration of the Apprenticeship and End-Point Assessment period
• have Maths and English GCSE pass or equivalent - if you do not have English and Maths at the required standard, you may be able to take 'functional skills' as part of the apprenticeship

What will I earn as an apprentice?

Each year, the government specifies a minimum wage that employers must pay their apprentices. This minimum wage applies to apprentices aged 16 to 18, and apprentices aged 19 or over who are in their first year.

You can find the published government rates for national minimum wages on GOV.UK.

At West Berkshire Council, we support fair pay principles and pay above the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices. The rate of pay you receive will depend on the role and the pay scales within that department.

Apprenticeships Care Leavers' Bursary

Apprentices who are aged 16 to 24 and are in care or care leavers could be entitled to a bursary of £3,000. You can find out more about the Apprenticeships Care Leavers' Bursary on GOV.UK here.

Further information

We've included information on the pages below about our apprenticeships, our strategy and the benefits of doing an apprenticeship.

You can also find information about available apprenticeships and support on the following websites:

• 'Become an apprentice: What you'll get' on GOV.UK
• Apprenticeships pages on GOV.UK
• Institute for Apprenticeships website
• National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates on GOV.UK
• Apprenticeships care leavers' bursary guidance on GOV.UK