An Apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying skills development standard designed by employers in the sector. (Trailblazer Steering Group) An apprenticeship is a government recognised and approved learning programme, aimed at people over the age of 16.
It allows the apprentice to gain technical knowledge and job ready experience, along with functional and personal skills, required for their immediate job and future career. These are based on the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB), needed to perform the job role.
These KSBs are acquired and developed through a blend of learning in the workplace, 20% off the job training and the opportunity to practice and embed new skills in the job role.
An apprenticeship combines on site experience with off the job training to provide the right balance of training and real life experience.
Apprentices are required to work a minimum of 30 hours per week. However, if they're aged 18 or under, they are not permitted to work more than 40 hours a week, or more than 8 hours a day.
Employers must dedicate a minimum of 20% of the apprentice's working hours to training and commit to paying their apprentice the national apprentice minimum wage of £4.81 per hour for the first year of their employment.
