If you are an employer who’s ready to offer an apprenticeship role with your organisation or are considering doing so, then we are ready to help with free advice and guidance.

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Hiring an Apprentice

There are several steps to taking on an apprentice:

  1. Choose an apprenticeship standard for an apprenticeship in your industry and at a suitable level. This should be matched to the job description. Hawk Training can support you in identifying the appropriate apprenticeship aligned to your needs
  2. Where Hawk Training are unable to support your needs due to us not delivering the apprenticeship programme matched to your role, you can source your own apprenticeship provider using the government’s online ‘Find a training provider’ tool for the apprenticeship standard you’ve chosen
  3. You will need to agree a service level agreement with ourselves, the cost of the provision and the 5% employer contribution (if required)
  4. Advertise your apprenticeship - Hawk Training will do this for you through the online ‘Find an Apprenticeship’ service and also via other third-party sources. Hawk Training will also support this by advertising on our website and communicating your vacancy to candidates who are looking for an apprenticeship opportunity and meet the job specification
  5. Hawk Training will complete initial vetting and telephone screening of applicants and forward suitable CVs for you to review 
  6. Select your apprentice using your normal selection process e.g. interview, assessment centre and agree terms and conditions for your apprentice to start 
  7. Once your apprentice starts, Hawk Training will arrange enrolment onto the apprenticeship programme, working with you to develop a structured learning plan 

 

 Concentrated bearded young man using laptop while his friends studying together

 

How long do apprenticeships last? 

Apprenticeships must last for at least a year. They can last up to 5 years depending on the level the apprentice is studying. Your training organisation will work with you in identifying a length of stay that meets the needs of the apprentice.

How much do you pay a new entrant apprentice?

The current minimum wage rate for an apprentice is £4.81 per hour. This rate applies if the apprentice is under 19, or if they are aged 19 or over and are in their first year. Apprentices must be paid the national minimum wage for their age if they are an apprentice aged 19 or over and have completed your first year.

These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. The rates change every April.

Year

23 and over

21 to 22

18 to 20

Under 18

Apprentice

April 2022 (current rate)

£9.50

£9.18

£6.83

£4.81

£4.81

 

It’s important to note that these pay rates are minimums only. Most employers will often set their salaries at higher rates depending on their policy, the sector and the role in order to make their apprenticeship opportunities competitive.

 

 It is important to set a realistic living wage that both attracts and retains the apprentice whilst in post. As the employer you may want to, working with Hawk Training, add incremental wage increases aligned to completion of components of the apprenticeship programme that will support motivation of the apprentice over the duration of their programme.

Everyone benefits with apprenticeships

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  • Increase employee retention74% of companies surveyed said that apprentices tended to be more loyal, than non-apprentices. 
  • Use funds that will otherwise be lost, only 14% of Levy funds have been used.  
  • Fill any skills gaps and allow the business to source future managers and leaders from within.
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  • Teams are more motivated - 92% of companies who invest in apprentices reported a significant increase in employee motivation. 
  • Enhance team productivity, 76% say that productivity has improved since getting an apprentice. 

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  • Upskill, (92%) of apprentices felt that their apprenticeship had had a positive impact on their career. 
  • An apprenticeship gives staff the opportunity to become more valuable to the company.  
  • Higher morale, teams have higher spirit and morale, as the organisation invested time and training in them. 

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  • 97% of apprentices said their ability to do the job had improved 
  • 92% of apprentices said that their career prospects had improved 
  • Earn while you learn. 

Book a free consultation

Meet our dedicated programme design team to:

  • Discuss the process of building a programme that suits your business needs and represents your business' identity
  • Review your apprenticeship training strategy and development plans
  • The opportunities that apprenticeships can bring to your business
  • Setting up an apprenticeship role and recruiting to your vacancy
  • How staff can undertake training through apprenticeships