As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 and not in full time education can apply. Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices' ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £95 a week, however, many apprentices earn significantly more.

Who are Apprenticeships for?
You can use Apprenticeships to train both new and existing employees. Funding is available to train apprentices.

How are Apprenticeships developed?
Business representatives from the relevant industry sector work with the Sector Skills Councils to develop the course content. Because they genuinely understand your business, the training will be relevant for your industry.

What does the training provider do?
A training provider will provide an employer representative who will be able to support and guide you. They will work with you to:

• help you decide which Apprenticeship is right for you;
• explain the way that Apprenticeships might work for you and if funding is available;
• agree a training plan with your apprentice;
• recruit an apprentice or support your existing staff into Apprenticeships;
• manage the training and evaluation; and
• ensure that national quality standards are met and deliver integrated, coherent training.

Fill your skills gaps
Apprenticeships deliver skills designed around your business needs. They also help you develop the specialist skills you need to keep pace with the latest technology and working practices in your sector. Employers in the Populus survey said they relied on their Apprenticeship programmes to provide the skilled workers they need for the future.

Motivate your workforce
Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them. Remember, an apprentice is with you because they want to be – they have made an active choice to learn on the job and a commitment to a specific career.

Downloads:
Employers Advice Brochure (PDF)
Apprentice Advice Brouchure (PDF)

For more details see:www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Plan 500 is the employer led response to support young people aged 16-24 to realise their potential and the skills needed to drive Swindon forward.  Employers can register to offer:

• work experience
• apprenticeships
• mentors
• work based qualification
• support for school diplomas

For further details, go to www.forwardswindon.co.uk/Plan 500.

For further information on apprenticeship, contact:
Julia Falaki, GWP Email: admin@gw-partnership.co.uk
Melvin Packham, National Apprenticeship Service (Swndon) Email: melvin.packham@lsc.gov.uk
Sally Timmins, National Apprenticeship Service (Wiltshire) Email: sally.timmins@apprenticeships.gov.uk
Gina Johnson, National Apprenticeship Service (Gloucestershire) Email: Gina.Johnson@apprenticeships.gov.uk