Who can be employed as an apprentice?

In the fourth of a series of blogs on how an apprenticeship programme can support growth and development at your business, Natalie Cole, coordinator of the Apprentice & Skills Plus service, writes about who can be employed as an apprentice.

Preconceptions that apprenticeships are only for school leavers or labour-intensive roles are evolving. With the employer-led redesign of apprenticeship standards, they are increasingly seen as highly valued training and education routes, which emphasise quality, knowledge and practical skills, regardless of previous qualifications, age and job role.

There is no upper age limit on apprenticeships, they are open to anyone aged 16 and over who is resident in England and not on a full-time course at college/university. It is possible to employ someone straight out of school on completion of their GCSEs or after A Levels. In fact, intermediate apprenticeships (Level 2) are commonly designed for entry-level positions. Often the only requirements at this level are that the apprentice has achieved a pass in English and Maths at GCSE and shows a genuine interest in the job role/sector.

For those who don’t have Maths and English, it is still possible to undertake an apprenticeship, but while doing so they will also need to study Functional Skills. This is something that your training provider will be able to deliver to your apprentice. Functional Skills offer learners a vocational pathway into English and Maths with the flexibility to sit their assessment all year round. The qualifications are aimed at adults and widely accepted as equal to GCSEs by employers. The difference from a GCSE and other school qualifications is that it aims to teach the skills that are needed in daily life and the workplace rather than esoteric knowledge that has little day to day benefit. 

Can existing employees become apprentices?

Yes, apprenticeships for existing staff are often an acknowledgement that the person should be in a higher position than they currently are at the company, but they lack one or two pieces of knowledge or skills. They operate in the same way as apprenticeships for new employees and levy funding can be used to pay for their training. They offer a great opportunity to upskill current staff who have an aptitude and drive to learn. Many employers invest in existing staff to enable them to progress in the business into roles such as supervisors and managers while ensuring they have the right skills in line with industry standards.

When using the apprenticeship levy to upskill existing members of staff, it is not a requirement to change the employee’s job title or contract of employment. However, as with all apprenticeships the employer would have to ensure that there is an Apprenticeship Agreement in place that has been signed by both the Employer and the Apprentice.

One of the most significant benefits of apprenticeships, for employers and staff alike, is that they help organisations keep their employees motivated and committed for the long-term, aiding career progression within companies and allowing employees to plug knowledge gaps and gain the recognition their efforts deserve.

If you would like to have a no obligation chat with Natalie about the benefits of apprenticeships and how to implement a programme, please email natalie@furnituremakers.org.uk. For more information about the Apprentice & Skills Plus service, complete the sign-up form below.

About Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole is skills plus coordinator, a role funded by The Furniture Makers’ Company and the Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance. Natalie has 20 years’ experience in the sector. After studying Furniture Design & Technology at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University, now Bucks New Uni, she ran a small furniture design business for 10 years that combined small run batch production of domestic furniture and products as well as larger scale one-off commissions. Most recently, she has been teaching furniture and product design at Birmingham City University for past eight years.