Over the years apprenticeships have changed, both for the learner and the employer. Opinions about them have changed too, and that’s led to some common misconceptions that we’re going to set straight!
Only young people can do an apprenticeship…NOT TRUE, In the UK, there is no upper age limit on eligibility for enrolling on an apprenticeship. AGE is a Protected Characteristic and cannot be used against you.
Apprenticeships are only for trade careers…NOT TRUE there are a number of professional qualifications available via the apprenticeship pathway with many Chartered Institutes offering apprenticeship standards. Some courses are even available as a degree apprenticeship meaning you will be PAID to get your degree rather than finishing with a student loan that you’ll be paying off for most of your working life.
They’re expensive…Expense is relative, BUT if you’re a small business with a wage bill lower than £3 million, the govt will fund 95% of the cost. And if your wage bill is higher, you’ll already be paying into the Levy Pot which can be used to foot the bill. As an apprentice, you do not pay for your apprenticeship or any associated costs.
The business will have to hire someone new…NOT TRUE, apprenticeships can be offered to existing or new employees, they’re a great way of developing and up-skilling your existing workforce so there’s no need to hire someone new.
Apprentices don’t get paid much – Again, this is relative BUT all apprentices are entitled to a minimum wage of £5.28 per hour with the average apprentice wage sitting at £22,500. (According to a Glassdoor report in October 2022) However, if you are doing a higher-level apprenticeship eg: Level 6/ Degree level or higher, this is likely to be a lot more.
They’re hard to set up – Some parts of the onboarding might be time consuming but most of the legwork is done by the provider who know the system. At SRSCC we know what’s required and can guide you through the process taking away the stress.
Apprentices need “babysitting” – NOT TRUE – This is a sad misconception that can make some employers reluctant to employ an apprentice or invest in staff development. An apprentice is there to work just like any other employee. The skills and competencies that they learn on the job will be documented and their off the job hours will be supported by the training provider.
When we look beyond the myths and misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships, we can see their true versatility and accessibility. Age, career path, cost, or experience, shouldn’t be barriers to embarking on an Apprenticeship or considering apprenticeships as a meaningful pathway to staff development.
