If you are a business the buzz around apprenticeships won’t have escaped you.  There are a lot of good news stories in circulation which show how apprenticeships are benefitting businesses, particularly SME’s, and providing young people with the opportunity to learn new skills.  Providing young people with a real route to a career through the Apprenticeship scheme is good news for everyone.

What may be less clear is how to get started if you are interested in taking on an Apprentice.

Funding

Businesses may be able claim up to 5 different grants to cover the initial costs of hiring an Apprentice, which includes £1,500 in the form of an Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16-24 year olds.

The funding criteria is due to change in January 2015, so you may wish to look at advice on funding via the Apprenticeships.org.uk website

General Information

An Apprenticeship normally lasts for a minimum of 13 months and can last up to four years.  This is an investment for a business but gives business owners a real opportunity to shape and develop their workforce.

It is worth noting that an Apprentice does become your employee and has full employment rights as would any other employee.

Apprenticeship schemes are facilitated through local colleges and independent training providers, and they can offer more advice and support to get you started. The Apprenticeships Website includes a search facility to help employers locate training providers depending upon the type of apprenticeship being offered.