Apprenticeships

Learning new skills on the job

Providing learning opportunities in a working environment.

Apprenticeships are structured training programmes undertaken within a working environment. They combine on-the-job learning with off-the-job development of skills and knowledge. Apprenticeships benefit businesses by providing structured training programmes which meet specific workplace needs, and which are subsidised by the government for the majority of apprentices. Apprentices benefit by gaining real-world experience while earning a wage and using these new skills to provide them with recognised qualifications. This creates a win-win situation for both parties.

Apprenticeships can be taken by anyone aged 16 and above. There is no fixed time frame for the completion of an apprenticeship (although apprenticeships for those aged 16-18 last a minimum of 12 months), but each typically takes between one and four years depending on their involvement and level of difficulty. In England alone, 125,930 learners started a Skills CFA apprenticeship in 2010/11, which represents 28% of starts across all frameworks1. Apprenticeships are offered at different levels and are known by different names across the UK.

Two new Higher Apprenticeships have recently been developed: a level 5 in Human Resource Management developed in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and a level 4 qualification in Project Management developed with the Association for Project Management.


We are also responsible for the development of the following apprenticeship programmes.

England, Wales & NI

  • Business & Administration: Levels 2, 3 & 4
  • Team Leading: Level 2
  • Management: Levels 3 & 5
  • Customer Service: Levels 2 & 3
  • Contact Centres Operations: Levels 2, 3 & 4
  • Marketing: Levels 2 & 3
  • Sales and Telesales: Levels 2 & 3
  • HR Management: Level 5 (England)
  • Project Management: Level 4 (England)

Scotland

  • Business & Administration: Levels 2, 3 & 4
  • Management: Levels 3, 4 & 5
  • Customer Service: Levels 2 & 3
  • Contact Centres: Level 3
 
Level Known as Equivalent to
2 Intermediate Level Apprenticeship GCSEs
3 Advanced Level Apprenticeship A-levels
4 Higher Apprenticeship First year of an undergraduate degree
5 Higher Apprenticeship Second year of an undergraduate degree

 

If you would like more information on how apprenticeships can benefit your business please contact us.

We also issue certificates for a number of additional apprenticeships, including:

  • enterprise (developed by SFEDI)
  • fundraising (developed by Skills Third Sector)
  • campaigning (developed by Skills Third Sector)

Read more on apprenticeships:

 

 

Share this: