Apprenticeships
Lambeth has a fantastic choice of local apprenticeship providers offering the training or upskilling your business needs to grow.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships offer a unique way to acquire talent and develop a productive workforce. They allow new employees to enter the workforce, learn essential skills and earn qualifications at the same time as working for you. They are also a fantastic way to upskill existing staff, investing in their development and boosting staff retention.
What are the benefits?
Access to a diverse talent pool, including young people with fresh perspectives or mature apprentices with prior experience who want to learn new skills
The opportunity to develop a highly skilled workforce which fits your values and culture
Benefit from government incentives and funding for apprenticeships, providing recruitment and skills development solutions that work for your business
Address skills gaps and future-proof your workforce by nurturing homegrown talent
Enhanced staff retention and loyalty, with a committed workforce who know you have invested in their growth
Build a positive reputation as a responsible employer committed to supporting the next generation of workers
How does an apprenticeship work?
Apprenticeships offer a powerful way to develop your workforce. There are several apprenticeship levels available:
| Level | Equivalent education level | |
| Intermediate | 2 | GCSE |
| Advanced | 3 | A-level |
| Higher | 4, 5, 6 & 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 & 7 | Bachelor's or master's degree |
Apprenticeships typically last 1-6 years, depending on which apprenticeship you choose, what level it is, and each apprentice's previous experience.
As the employer, you choose a high-quality training provider to deliver the educational component of an apprenticeship programme aligned with your industry and business needs, complementing the on-the-job training you provide within your organisation.
This collaborative approach combines practical work experience with structured learning, strengthening your workforce and enabling apprentices to acquire the skills, knowledge, and qualifications necessary for their career path.
An apprentice must:
- be 16 or over
- not already be in full-time education
- be living in England
A 9-step guide to the process
Needs analysis
Identify the skills gaps within your workforce
Choose a course
Choose from one of the hundreds of approved apprenticeship training courses available
Choose a training provider
Choose an approved apprenticeship training provider to deliver your chosen apprenticeship training course
Recruitment
Advertise your apprenticeship vacancies with us and attract enthusiastic individuals looking to start their careers or upskill
Selection
Hold interviews to identify individuals with the right skills, motivation, and potential for success in your apprenticeship role
Employment
Once selected, apprentices become employees of your organisation, working alongside your experienced team and learning on the job
Support and mentoring
Provide ongoing guidance and support to apprentices, ensuring they receive the necessary guidance and mentorship to progress in their apprenticeship journey
Education and qualifications
Apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours on their formal education (delivered by your chosen training provider), working towards achieving an industry-recognised qualification
Progression
As apprentices gain experience and develop skills, they contribute more effectively to your organisation. Towards the end of the apprenticeship, you can offer opportunities for progression within your company, or work with us to support them in transitioning to higher-level apprenticeships or permanent roles.
Funding an apprenticeship
The educational component of the training might cost you nothing!
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees
If you employ fewer than 50 employees, the government will pay 100% of the apprenticeship training costs (up to an advertised "funding band maximum") for apprentices aged:
- 16 to 18
- 19 to 24 if they have an "education, health and care plan" provided by their local authority or have been in the care of their local authority.
The apprenticeship levy
Employers whose pay bill is more than £3 million per year must pay the 'apprenticeship levy' to the government. They can spend this on training and assessing their own apprentices, but can also transfer a certain amount to support small businesses with their apprenticeship training costs (this is called a "levy transfer").
Other businesses
Businesses that do not pay the levy but have more than 50 employees pay just 5% towards the cost of training and assessing an apprentice. The government will pay the rest, up to the "funding band maximum".
These employers could benefit from a levy transfer to cover some or all of their 5% contribution. Contact us for more information about our levy transfer scheme.
Related Pages
How do I get an apprentice?
We know you're busy running your organisation, so our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way, providing expert guidance and assistance in developing your apprenticeship programme.
Contact us