Apprenticeships

A group of people sitting around a table writing and talking

Apprenticeships help you earn while you learn and acquire all the training and skills you need to pursue your career.

The government website advertises apprenticeships available across the UK. Search by occupation and postcode

Who are apprenticeships for?

You can start an Apprenticeship from the age of 16 and there is no upper age limit. If you’re looking for your first job, already in a job and want to gain professional qualifications, thinking about re-training into a different career, or returning to work, an apprenticeship can help you to develop important skills while gaining valuable work experience.

What types of apprenticeship are there?

Intermediate (Level 2) – this is equivalent to 5 GCSEs
Advanced (Level 3) – this is equivalent to 2 A Levels
Higher (Level 4 or 5) – this is equivalent to a BTEC, HND or Foundation Degree
Degree (Level 6 or 7) – this is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s

Why apprenticeships?

You get paid – apprentices earn a wage (a minimum of £5.28 per hour) and are also entitled to paid holiday
On the job training – at least 20% of your working hours must be spent on training. This is a great way to learn if you’re not keen on classrooms or lectures
Nationally recognised qualifications – you’ll get a real qualification that’s recognised by employers, which could be from Level 2 all the way to a Master’s Degree.
Real experience – kickstart your career by getting experience as well as a qualification
No debt – all apprenticeship training costs at all levels are covered by your employer, meaning you can even get a degree without any student debt
No upper age limit – you can do an apprenticeship at any age after you turn 16, meaning you can keep learning and developing even as you progress in your career

How much will I get paid?

The current National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour, although lots of employers will pay more. Lots of websites have different estimates for the average apprenticeship salary, anything from £12,000 to £30,000 per year depending on the level and employer, but you can always expect a minimum of £5.28 per hour. Everyone’s financial situation is different, and you can use an independent benefits calculator to see how an apprenticeship wage might impact any benefits you receive.

Find out more at GOV.UK.

Current apprenticeship vacancies in Southampton

You can view apprenticeship vacancies in Southampton using the National Apprenticeships Service website.

Search for apprenticeship vacancies at GetMyFirstJob.

You can also find apprenticeship vacancies on the Find Apprenticeships website.

Resources for employers

Solent Apprenticeship Hub

The Solent Apprenticeship Hub is an ESF funded partnership supported by Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, Portsmouth University, Solent University.

The Solent Apprenticeship Hub is the essential resource for employers wishing to find out how apprenticeships can benefit their organisation and where to find advice and guidance. The Solent Apprenticeship Hub offers independent and impartial advice around apprenticeships and how they can support your business needs and goals. We will learn about your business and try to recommend ways to save money and improve your bottom line.

For more information, please visit the Solent Apprenticeship Hub website.

Employers looking for apprentices

Employing apprentices can help fill your skills gap, deliver real returns to your bottom line, increase the proportion of trained workers in industry and boost productivity.

To find out more about the benefits apprenticeships can bring to your organisation, about the apprenticeship levy and how to take on an Apprentice, please visit employing an apprentice.

The Apprenticeship Levy

The Apprenticeship Levy is an amount paid at a rate of 0.5% of an employer's annual pay bill. As an employer, you have to pay Apprenticeship Levy each month if you:

Have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million
Are connected to any companies or charities for Employment Allowance purposes and have a combined annual pay bill of more than £3 million

For further guidance, please visit how to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer.

You can also contact the Apprenticeships Helpdesk by calling 08000 150 600 or emailing helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk.