EMPLOYERS
What is an Apprenticeship?
What’s an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. Once you have identified the Apprenticeship programme right for you, we will match you to one of our trusted main providers and work with them to deliver your apprenticeship training.
An apprentice will:
– work alongside experienced staff
– gain job-specific skills
– earn a wage and get holiday pay
– be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)
What levels are there?
All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentices ability and competence in their job role. At NEMA, we currently offer apprenticeships from Level 2-Level 5.
What can they earn?
The national minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices is £4.15 per hour from April 2020. The apprentice NMW applies to apprentices aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage. This is the legal minimum pay per hour, most receive more. More details on salaries and entry criteria in specific apprenticeship occupations can be found on GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’.
An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. Once you have identified the Apprenticeship programme right for you, we will match you to one of our trusted main providers and work with them to deliver your apprenticeship training.
An apprentice will:
– work alongside experienced staff
– gain job-specific skills
– earn a wage and get holiday pay
– be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)
What levels are there?
All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentices ability and competence in their job role. At NEMA, we currently offer apprenticeships from Level 2-Level 5.
What can they earn?
The national minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices is £4.15 per hour from April 2020. The apprentice NMW applies to apprentices aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship. Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage. This is the legal minimum pay per hour, most receive more. More details on salaries and entry criteria in specific apprenticeship occupations can be found on GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’.
Levy/Non-Levy Paying Employers
How the Levy works
Employers with a wage bill of over £3 million and staff numbers of 50 or more must pay an Apprenticeship Levy. This is a tax of 0.5% of the wage bill and can be used to pay for your apprentice's training. Each employer receives an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment. The Government tops up the levy payments by 10% but levy funds expire after 24 months if they have not been utilised.
Running out of Levy money
If you use up all of the money in your Levy account, you will have to contribute 5% of the remaining training costs. The Government will pay the remaining 95%.
Incentives
All employers, including Levy payers, receive a £1000 incentive when enrolling an apprentice aged between 16 and 18. This is paid in two instalments- after 13 weeks and after 1 year. Until January 2021, employers taking on apprentices will receive an additional £2000 per new apprentice aged 16-24 and £1500 per new apprentice aged over 25.
Non-Levy Paying Employers
If an employer has less than 50 staff, the apprenticeship is fully funded for apprentices age 16-18. For apprentices aged 19 or over, the employer must contribute 5% of the funding band. For an employer with 50 or more staff, this contribution applies to all ages.
Employers with a wage bill of over £3 million and staff numbers of 50 or more must pay an Apprenticeship Levy. This is a tax of 0.5% of the wage bill and can be used to pay for your apprentice's training. Each employer receives an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment. The Government tops up the levy payments by 10% but levy funds expire after 24 months if they have not been utilised.
Running out of Levy money
If you use up all of the money in your Levy account, you will have to contribute 5% of the remaining training costs. The Government will pay the remaining 95%.
Incentives
All employers, including Levy payers, receive a £1000 incentive when enrolling an apprentice aged between 16 and 18. This is paid in two instalments- after 13 weeks and after 1 year. Until January 2021, employers taking on apprentices will receive an additional £2000 per new apprentice aged 16-24 and £1500 per new apprentice aged over 25.
Non-Levy Paying Employers
If an employer has less than 50 staff, the apprenticeship is fully funded for apprentices age 16-18. For apprentices aged 19 or over, the employer must contribute 5% of the funding band. For an employer with 50 or more staff, this contribution applies to all ages.
Why should you take on an apprentice?
See our leaflet below to read the benefits of hiring an apprentice:
Off the Job Training
All apprentices are required to complete and record what is known as “Off the Job Training” (OTJ Training). This includes the employer allowing 20% of the learners contracted hours to be used as off the job training and will include a number of activities including:
- Off-the-job training is training received by the apprentice, during the apprentice’s paid hours, for the purpose of achieving their apprenticeship.
- Off-the-job training is a statutory requirement for an English apprenticeship.
- Off-the-job training must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework or standard, teaching new knowledge, skills and behaviours required to reach competence in the particular occupation.
