It is sometimes confusing working out what options are available to our children and dependants after school. We are often very familiar with traditional routes of education, A-Levels and then on to University being the main ones. These may not be right for your children and an Apprenticeship could be a more suitable option.
Starting Off have been placing learners into workplace learning for over 30 years and apprenticeships have been a key part of our offering since the introduction of Modern Apprenticeships back in 1994. Today, we provide apprenticeships in Accountancy, Customer Service, Business Administration, Information Communication Technician, Team Leadership and Multi-Channel Marketing, but there are over 650 apprenticeship options out there, ranging from Maritime Pipeworker to Family and Systemic Psychotherapist.
Here we answer some of the most common questions around apprenticeships..
Apprenticeships are a qualification you do whilst working so they are directly related to workplace skills.
For every apprenticeship qualification there is a ‘standard’ of knowledge, skills and behaviours that an apprentice is required to demonstrate.
In order to do an apprenticeship, you are signed up with an approved training provider. This could be a college, an independent training provider (like Starting Off) or in the case of degree apprenticeships, a university. Some large employers are approved to offer their own apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships are fully funded by employers and the Government. Some of this is through an Apprenticeship Levy tax that was introduced for larger organisations in 2017.
Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to get a feel for the working environment whilst learning new skills from industry specialists.
One benefit of an apprenticeship is that it really helps develop soft skills as well as practical knowledge (for example, communication, team work, organisational skills). These skills will enhance their professional capabilities and contribute to their personal growth, helping them to build a successful career.
An apprenticeship is a qualification in its own right, and some apprenticeships also contain professional qualifications as part of the mandatory components of the programme. Some training providers may also deliver extra professional qualifications because they are relevant to the industry or because they overlap with the knowledge, skills and behaviours taught for the apprenticeship. For example, under the Accounting apprenticeships at Starting Off, learners study the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualifications.
An apprenticeship provides valuable skills, qualifications and experience, opening up diverse career opportunities. Apprentices often secure permanent roles with their employer, advance into senior positions, or pursue further education, such as higher-level apprenticeships, certifications, or degrees. Some of our former apprentices have even set up their own businesses! From September 2025, Level 3 Apprenticeships are going to be awarded UCAS tariff points to support learners looking to pursue a degree later on in their career.
From April 2025 the National Minimum Wage for 16-18 year old Apprentices will be £7.55 an hour. This is approximately £14,700 per annum.
This rate can also be paid to apprentices over the age of 19 for the first year of their apprenticeship, after which the National Minimum Wage for their age range will apply. Many employers pay more than this, depending on the industry and the level of apprenticeship being studied.
Just like other employees, apprentices will also be entitled to other benefits such as holiday pay, the opportunity to contribute to a pension scheme (once aged 22+) and other benefits offered by the company itself.
Level 2 apprenticeships require learners to achieve a Level 1 qualification in maths and English. This is equivalent to grades 1-3 or G-D at GCSE. They also require learners to study towards and take the test for Level 2 maths and English, but achieving these are not a requirement for completing the apprenticeship.
Level 3 apprenticeships require learners to achieve Level 2 in these subjects, equivalent to a 4 or a C (and above) at GCSE.
If an apprentice has not achieved these grades when they start, they will be required to undertake Functional Skills at the relevant level as part of the apprenticeship.Â
For learners who have achieved something other than GCSE, such as international qualifications or Key Skills achievers, the Government provide a list of acceptable qualifications that count as equivalents. Exemptions to these rules may also be made for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Not all employers will take on an apprentice with lower than grade 4 in maths and English so many providers look for this as a minimum registration criteria.
There are many places where apprenticeships are advertised, the main central one is the government’s National Apprenticeship Service, but many job sites also offer searching by apprenticeships specifically:
You can have a look at all the different apprenticeship qualifications (known as standards) available through the Institute of Apprenticeships. These pages have a link to find apprenticeship training providers in your area through the GOV.UK site.
You can also research large employers to see if they offer apprenticeship schemes. Some of the biggest UK employers with apprenticeship schemes include the British Army, BT, Amazon, Tesco and BAE Systems. You can usually just search on their web-sites for ‘apprenticeships’ or ‘early careers’.
In order to secure an apprenticeship, you need to be proactive, just as if you are looking for any other type of job!
All apprenticeships are regulated by the government and training providers such as ourselves, are inspected by OFSTED to ensure our delivery is effective and safe.
Providers have a duty to ensure learners are kept safe and must have effective safeguarding procedures in place. If you have any specific enquires around safeguarding and how we ensure the safety of our learners, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Want to know more?
Speak to one of our recruitment advisers for further information or to see what apprenticeship roles are available
01604 622855Ask any questions on our online form and a member of our team will get back to you
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Employer
Starting Off Limited – Registered office: Unit 12 Vulcan Works, 34-38 Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1EW – Registration No: 03755326 – Registered in England.
