The history of apprenticeships in this country is a long one, dating back to the 12th Century and ensuring that tradesmen and craftsmen could pass on their skills. So valuable was the system that in 1563, the Statute of Artificers and Apprentices decreed that nobody could practise a trade unless they had served a seven-year apprenticeship first.
The first modern apprenticeships appeared in the 1960s, with the Industrial Training Boards laying down syllabus and standards for vocational learning. In the 1990s, learning frameworks were devised and implemented by Skills Councils for each sector. Those frameworks contained knowledge-based and skill-based elements.
Apprenticeships – the figures
In the year 2024-5, there were 353,500 starts, up by 4.1% from 2023/24. Participation in apprenticeships measured 761,480, up by 3.4% from 2023/24.
Of those apprenticeship starts, higher apprenticeships increased by 15.1% to 140,730 from the 2023/4 figure of 122,230.
The sector subject area with the highest number of starts is Business, Administration and Law at 103,890.
Although many still think of apprenticeships as mostly involving young people, the figure show that Under 19s accounted for 21.2% of starts (74,990).
What do apprenticeships cover?
In years gone by, when people thought about apprenticeships, they pictured them centring around industrial areas, but they offer a lot more now, including:
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Animal Care
- Arts
- Media
- Publishing
- Business
- Administration
- Law
- Construction
- Planning
- Built Environment
- Education and Training
- Health
- Public Services
- Care
- Information and Communication Technology
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism
- Retail
- Commercial Enterprise
How do young people benefit from apprenticeships?
1. An employee from day one
A person who starts an apprenticeship is doing a real job for a real employer. As well as getting paid while they learn, they will also get the same benefits as other employees, such as pension contributions and annual leave. In terms of employment law, apprentices also benefit from protection under the Equality Act 2010.
2. No debts
Whilst university students could graduate with tens of thousands of pounds of debt, apprentices do not have to worry about that. Their tuition fees are met by the government and they start earning from day one of their apprenticeship.
3. Experience and training
Apprenticeships are run on a structured programme that ensures the apprentice acquires the skills they need to do their job as well as they can. Much of their training takes place on the job and they have a placement (often a day a week but it can vary) with a training provider where they can study further in an academic environment.
4. Support
The apprentice’s training provider works closely with the employer to ensure that all learning goals are met and that any concerns the apprentice has are dealt with.
5. A recognised and relevant qualification
When an apprenticeship finishes, the apprentice will have a good clutch of qualifications to their name and can use them to move on to the next level.
What levels of apprenticeship are there?
Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels. An intermediate apprenticeship is classed as Level 2 and is equivalent to GCSE. An advanced apprenticeship is classed as Level 3 and is equivalent to A Levels. Higher apprenticeships fall into Levels 4 to 7 and are the equivalent of a Foundation degree or above. A degree apprenticeship is classed as levels 6 or 7 and is the equivalent of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
Some apprenticeships may also give an additional qualification, such as a diploma.
Apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Apprenticeship details differ depending where in the UK an employer operates.
In Scotland, apprentices have extra employment rights when it comes to redundancy and dismissal.
The apprenticeship levy
This is an amount paid monthly at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s annual pay bill. However, not all employers will pay this. Employers have to pay the Levy if they:
- have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million
- are connected to any companies or charities for Employment Allowance purposes and have a combined annual pay bill of more than £3 million
Sectors that have specific rules for paying Apprenticeship Levy are:
- franchises
- off-payroll working
- short-lived companies
- managed service companies
- employment or recruitment agencies
- joint ventures
- schools
Industry training levy contributions
Employer will still need to pay the Apprenticeship Levy even if they already contribute to an industry-wide training levy arrangement like the Construction Industry Training Board Levy.
