Apprentices FAQ

There is no contribution payable by you for your apprenticeship funding. If you are aged 16-18 your apprenticeship is fully funded (for employers with less than 50 employees) and if you are 19+ then your employer may have to pay a contribution towards your learning (see page 1).

There are different minimum pay rates depending on how long you have been an apprentice and your age. Go to www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates to find the latest information. The apprenticeship minimum wage as of 1st April 2020 is £4.15.

Once you have been on programme for 1 year and are over the age of 19, the national minimum wage is applicable for your age.

No, there is no minimum number of hours for an apprentice to work. However, if you work less than 30 hours per week over the 52 weeks a year then the minimum duration of the apprenticeship is required to be extended.

Not always, but the minimum contract must be for 372 days.

This is very difficult to identify as it all depends on the job role, the type of assessment which can be used and the confidence of the apprentice. That said it should take 5-6 hours each week for the duration of the apprenticeship to gather the evidence required for their portfolio. This does not include the training you will cover whilst 'on the job'.

It is a funding requirement for the employer to allow the apprentice 20% of their time to focus on their portfolio and knowledge requirements of their apprenticeship. For example, the time can be allocated on a weekly basis, with one day out of each week set aside, or for one week a month. This will include time for the Tutor to meet with the apprentice and work through the programme, facilitate assessments and set new tasks.

You will not be required to supply any additional equipment or resources. Everything you need will be provided by the employer, found in the workplace or will be provided by the tutor.

Your employer will need to provide you with all of the tools you will need to carry out your job role safely within the company.

This depends on the qualification and units being taken.

You will be learning about a job role, relevant to your apprenticeship. All apprenticeship standards require level 2 Functional skills in English and Maths, if you have not already achieved this at GCSE A*-C; the rest of the apprenticeship really depends on which Standard you are on and with which employer you are employed by. Your apprenticeship will cover the requirements of the Standard and so you will have to meet certain Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours in order to gain the skills required to go through to the End Point Assessment.

We carry out an induction with you and the employer and through assessments ensure that you are on the right framework and level for your job role and ability.

You will be trained in a specific job role; you will have gained work experience;; the apprenticeship may lead to full time employment, to list a few of the benefits.

You will only need to complete Functional Skills in English and Maths if you have not achieved these qualifications at GCSE A*- C for either a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship.

You may have already achieved a QCF qualification in the past, of which the credits and units may be transferable to your new apprenticeship. Also, if you have achieved English and Maths at GCSE A*- C you will not need to retake them for your apprenticeship.

Profile do not find jobs for apprentices, but will work with you and as part of your apprenticeship your tutor will discuss job seeking, CV creation and cover letters etc. Also if appropriate you may be able to move to a higher level apprenticeship.

You can continue with your apprenticeship as long as the job you move to is the same or a similar role and the new employer is agreeable and willing to engage with the apprenticeship programme as your new employer.

Depending on the circumstances we are able to suspend your apprenticeship.

It is your responsibility to work with your tutor to meet the deadlines of the tasks set. If you do not then formal procedures will be put in place by your tutor and employer. If for any reason you cannot meet a deadline, you should communicate with your tutor to discuss the issue.

Yes you can, although it is strongly advised not to as any future funding applied for may be denied.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency will do everything they can to support you and find you another training provider.