Get the most out of apprenticeships

Find out what you need to do to employ an apprentice, the differences between apprenticeships in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with advice on how to get the most out of apprenticeships for your business.

What are apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships offer paid work experience alongside training with an education provider

Apprentices will gain quality hands-on workplace experience at the same time as they work towards a nationally recognised qualification. Unlike a fully academic route, apprentices will earn a salary as they learn. Mixing on-the-job and off-the-job learning ensures apprentices get the skills and knowledge they need in employment. Apprentices will also develop skills in your sector and specific to your business, making them an excellent pipeline to expanding your long-term workforce.

Apprentice and tutor in an engineering lab wearing protective glasses, inspecting a machine

What are the benefits of apprenticeships for businesses?

Engaging with apprenticeships can contribute to the development of a skilled and diverse engineering workforce, fostering innovation, and closing skills gaps.

Develop a workforce with the skills that are specific to your business
Help existing employees pass their knowledge on to the next generation of employees
Bring new thinking and new skills into your business
Encourage a motivated workforce that helps you stay competitive
Boost productivity by freeing up more experienced staff for expert level tasks
Enhance your company’s reputation in the local area
Develop diversity of age, ethnicity and gender in your workforce
Increase loyalty and retention of staff in your business by showing investment in their skills and potential.

Are there different apprenticeship levels?

Consider the apprenticeship level that best fills your skills gaps

Apprenticeships range from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs) to Level 7 (or Masters degree) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and from Level 5 (equivalent to Nationals) to Level 10 (or Masters degree) in Scotland.

What’s the difference between Level 3 apprenticeships and T Levels in England?

Level 3 Apprenticeships and T Levels are both options available for students in England moving on from GCSEs. They are also both equivalent to 3 A Levels and widely accepted by universities and other further education providers across the UK.

One of the main differences between these two qualifications is that while they are both aligned to the same standards, apprenticeships are occupation-specific while T Levels are broader.

Difference between apprenticeships and t-levels image

Apprenticeship provision across the four nations

Apprenticeship frameworks used in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are primarily qualification-focused, whereas apprenticeship standards used in England are more skills, knowledge, and behaviour-focused.

Apprenticeships in:

How do I recruit an apprentice?

If you’re new to the process you may want to seek advice from a specialist site or consultant before you get too far into the process – they’ll be able to guide you through the dos and don’ts.

Who is the qualifications regulator?

Ofqual

What is Enginuity’s role?

Develop and maintain the national occupational standards.

Regulatory Bodies

The bodies responsible for approving, regulating and funding apprenticeships in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Skills England unites government, businesses, training providers, and unions to address future skills needs nationwide, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system in line with the government’s Industrial Strategy.

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IfATE works with employers in England to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

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The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is a non-ministerial department that regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England.

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The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Education (DfE) responsible for funding education and skills providers in England.

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