Employer Skills Support

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying learning programme. An apprentice is employed by you, under a contract of employment, enabling them to earn and learn at the same time, gaining hands-on experience in the workplace whilst also gaining valuable work-based skills and qualifications. An apprentice is employed full-time by you and must be provided at least 6 paid hours during the work week dedicated to working towards their apprenticeship qualification.

Who can do an apprenticeship?

There's a common misconception that apprenticeships are only for people below a certain age who apply directly for an apprenticeship vacancy with a new employer, but this isn't the case. Apprenticeships are also a great way to facilitate growth and development within your current workforce and there is no upper age limit to do one.

Eligibility criteria

The apprentice must:

• be 16 or over (there is no upper age limit)
• not already be in full-time education
• live in England

Identifying an apprenticeship candidate  

If you're considering offering an apprenticeship, you might initially want to initially consider whether you have any suitable internal candidates or whether you might need to hire a new member of staff:

• Start an existing member of staff on an apprenticeship. Recommended if an employee moves into a job role where they need significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours to be occupationally competent, if existing staff are looking to grow and develop their careers or you are looking to diversify your business.
• Recruit a new member of staff as an apprentice. Recommended if you have an apprenticeship vacancy identified but no current staff members the position would be suitable for.

Duration

An apprenticeship must last a minimum of 12 months, but will usually last between one to five years (unless prior learning or attainment has been recorded) depending on the level of the apprenticeship, the industry and the abilities of the apprentice. If an apprentice works less than 30 hours a week, the duration of the apprenticeship must be extended to take account of this.

Apprenticeship levels

Apprenticeships are offered at one of 6 levels which broadly translate to the following academic levels. Just as you would with general vacancy, employers can decide if prior qualifications are needed to apply for their apprenticeship based on the level of the apprenticeship and complexity of the job.

Apprenticeship Training

During the Apprenticeship, your apprentice will require different learning opportunities:

On-the-job

Learning will be delivered by you, as the employer. You'll need to give your apprentice training, supervision and mentorship to help them perform the job you've hired them for.

Off-the-job

The training is delivered by you, the employer and/or by a training provider, during your apprentice's normal working hours. 

This training will teach your apprentice the required knowledge, skills and behaviours in the apprenticeship standard and will work out as 6 hours of their regular weekly working hours. As an apprenticeship is work-based learning, the off-the-job training must take place within the apprentice’s normal working hours. 

Your apprentice may be required to attend a college or training centre, on a day release or block release. Alternatively, your training provider may deliver this training in your workplace. Some elements of training may be able to be completed online. You can speak to your training provider about their training delivery plan. 

Apprentices may choose to spend additional time training outside paid hours, but this must not be required to complete the apprenticeship.

Functional Skills

If an apprentice has not achieved at least a grade 4 (or C) in both GCSE Maths and English before starting an apprenticeship, they will be required to study towards and pass Functional Skills Maths and English in addition their training in order to pass the apprenticeship. If this is required, the training provider will include functional skills support at no additional cost and support the apprentice towards achieving the required level depending on the apprenticeship level.

End Point Assessment (EPA)

Once your apprentice has completed their training programme, they will take an end point assessment (EPA) to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and behaviours - to show that they can perform all aspects of their occupation.

 The end-point assessment organisation must be independent from the training provider.

Employer Responsibilities

• Ensure the apprentice has a genuine job; this means the apprentice has a contract of employment which is long enough for them to complete the apprenticeship successfully (including their end point assessment)
• Ensure breadth of job role to be able to gain the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard
• Meet the cost of the wages for the apprentice; this includes the time they are in work and in off the job training
• Provide appropriate support and supervision to carry out their job role

You must agree and sign an ‘Apprenticeship Agreement’ with your apprentice. 

This will set out the details of the apprenticeship including:

• The training provided within the apprenticeship, including any qualifications they will achieve
• Length of apprenticeship
• The total number of ‘off the job’ training (hours) required
• The place of work

You must agree and sign a ‘Training Plan’ with your apprentice and the training provider. 

This will set out the details of apprenticeship including:

• The dates the apprenticeship is due to start and planned to end
• The normal working hours and a calculation to show the required off the job training hours
• A description of any prior learning the apprentice has undertaken which is relevant to the apprenticeship standard
• An individual learning plan for the delivery of the off the job training – including content and schedule
• What the apprentice, employer and training provider will offer & what they can expect from each other
• Confirmation the apprentices will be supported by the employer to undertake off the job training within normal working hours, in addition to Maths & English training (if required)

Internships

Our local universities, University of Leicester and DeMonfort University both have Internship talent match schemes that are available for local businesses. The schemes provide businesses with a graduate for the duration to work on a 'project' for that business over the duration. It's a great opportunity to match your business with high quality graduates, who have the knowledge and skills to add value to your business.

DeMonfort University:

Graduate Champions:
6 weeks | 111 Hours in total | 18.5 hours per week
Open to a specific cohort of graduates only
Fully funded – no cost to the organisation 
Start Date: 18 August 2025
End Date: 26 September 2025
Applications for employer / host proposals open May 2025 

ACE Internships:
6 weeks | 111 Hours in total | 18.5 hours per week
Open to any UG students only
Fully funded – no cost to the organisation 
Start Date: TBC June 2026
End Date: TBC July 2026
Proposals will open September 2025

University of Leicester:

Micro-internships starting in July 2025 (Current Students) – these are part-time and unpaid for up to 40 hours over 3-4 weeks and are good for short projects or employers who want to try out an internship initially over a short period

Citizens of Change Summer Internship (Current Students) – Salary-funded internships 25 hours a week over 6 weeks starting in June 2025

Graduate Internship Project (Graduates) - Salary-funded internships 25 hours a week over 6 weeks starting in Aug/Sept 2025

Colleges

There are also a range of free* courses that can be used to help upskill members of staff within your workforce via local colleges. They can also deliver personalised courses for your business.

• North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
• Loughborough College
• Leicester College

*Subject to criteria