Are you an employer looking to grow your business in a cost effective way?
An apprenticeship is a work-based training programme designed around your requirements as the employer. The apprenticeship scheme can be used to recruit and train new or existing employees. Anyone who has officially left education can become an apprentice whether they’re 16 or 70.
An apprentice is employed by your business and works towards a specific, recognised qualification relevant to your business. Usually lasting 12 months, apprentices will be visited in the workplace by a Runway Training assessor who will work with your apprentice through the apprenticeship framework to achieve their overall qualification.
Initially you will establish a requirement in your organisation to either recruit or train via the apprenticeship scheme. Natural growth of companies, either slow or rapid, can create opportunities for your existing employees to develop. Alternatively you may find a requirement for new team members who you want to mould and grow in to the ideal employee.
Your apprentice must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week, for a minimum of 12 months. The apprentice must have a contract of employment.
Sole Traders and home-based employers are able to recruit or train via the apprenticeship scheme, like all organisations Runway Training will conduct Health & Safety and risk assessments
An apprentice must be paid a minimum of the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices at £3.70 per hour for the first 12 months. Many employers we work with offer a higher rate than this based on the living and transport costs in the local area. We ask employers to bear in mind local living costs and transport costs when setting the apprenticeship salary.
Apprenticeships are government funded; Runway Training ensure the employer does not need to contribute to this. If you wish for your apprentice to undertake additional training, that is generally the employer’s responsibility.
Employers can decide whether they would like to continue employing the apprentice as a regular member of staff, or whether they think it is time for the apprentice to move on elsewhere.
Yes! The apprenticeship scheme is perfect for existing staff as we can help choose a qualification relevant to their job role to help them develop. We would need to double check they are eligible for apprenticeship funding.
Book a visit with Runway Training – we will cover any additional information you need to know before recruiting an apprentice. This meeting will give you the opportunity to confirm your understanding of the apprenticeship scheme. We will offer support throughout the whole process.
You will need to think about the job role and how this translates to a job description – Runway Training can be involved with as much or as little of the recruitment process, offering a pre-screening service and selecting apprenticeships frameworks.
Once you have found the right candidate, or found the right apprenticeship for your team member, we will allow time for your new apprentice to settle in to their new role and arrive 2 weeks later to start the enrolment and ongoing training. Throughout the apprenticeship, you will be able to contact Runway Training, the assessors to ask any questions, request progress reports or anything else you require. We are here to help!
The government is offering small employers who are recruiting their first apprentice in 12 months the opportunity to receive a £1500 grant.
Known as the AGE grant, this incentive is to support businesses who wish to take on young people to expand their business and who, without this payment, may not be in a position to recruit.
You could be eligible if:
You are able to apply for up to 5 apprentice grants.
Runway Training will discuss this grant with you and go through all relevant paperwork in order for you to gain this grant.
You will receive the grant from Runway Training once your apprentice has completed their first 13 weeks in learning on their apprenticeship.Please be advised it often takes up to 9 weeks after the 13 weeks of learning for the Skills Funding Agency to process this grant. The payment is exempt of VAT. During this period Runway Training will act as your training provider, supporting apprentices through the process.
