An apprenticeship is a work-based training programme designed around the needs of employers, which can lead to nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships at BCoT do have entry criteria and each candidate will be assessed to ascertain their current level to ensure suitability onto the chosen apprenticeship programme.

Apprenticeships are available for newly recruited staff and existing employees and there is no maximum age restriction. They help to refresh, enhance and develop your workforce to meet the growing needs of your business. Upon completion of an apprenticeship, employees not only achieve a nationally recognised qualification but will have gained the skills and knowledge required to make a positive impact within your organisation.

Taking on an apprentice or providing opportunities for your existing staff to undertake an apprenticeship can benefit you as an employer by:

• Reducing advertising and recruitment costs - Aspiral Learning can advertise your vacancy, free of charge, through the National Apprenticeship Service, recruitment websites and social media. Training apprentices is more cost effective than hiring pre-skilled staff, leading to lower overall training and recruitment costs.
• Providing cost effective training - Aspiral Learning can access government funding through the Skills Funding Agency to contribute towards the cost of the training.
• Offering a flexible, convenient training programme, tailored to meet your organisational needs - Aspiral Learning will work with you to ensure that the apprentices' learning plan compliments their job role and the requirements of your business.
• Developing a well-trained, committed and motivated workforce - apprentices are predominantly more eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that has invested in them.
• Increasing productivity and performance - a majority of employers say that apprenticeships helped them to improve productivity and to be more competitive.

Useful links: www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/employers/

Find out more about the benefits to your business as explained by Amazing Apprenticeships.

Small employers (up to 50 employees) training 16 - 18 year olds can claim full funding from the government. They are also eligible for an employer incentive payment of £1,000 payable over two installments (90 days and 365 days) for training a 16 - 18 year old.

Larger employers (with a salary over £3 million) can use their Apprenticeship Levy. They are also eligible for an employer incentive payment of £1,000 payable over two installments (90 days and 365 days) for training a 16 - 18 year old.

All other employers with 50+ employees who don’t pay the Levy, are expected to contribute 5% of the cost of the training with the Government paying the other 95%. Again, if training a 16 - 18 year old, they are eligible for the employer incentive payment of £1,000 paid in two installments (90 days and 365 days).

For apprentices aged 19 and above, all employers are expected to contribute 5% of the cost of the training with the Government paying the other 95%.

Apprenticeships are delivered in two ways and described as work based learning or day release.

• Day release - requires college attendance one day a week for the duration of their apprenticeship programme.
• Work based learning – full delivery in the workplace with no college attendance required.

• Promotion of your vacancy through Aspiral Learning's advertising channels
• Screening for literacy & numeracy levels for new recruits and existing employees
• Further in-depth screening for training needs takes place for those candidates progressing to advanced apprenticeships and other training programmes
• Aspiral Learning will carry out a Health & Safety audit to ensure that your premises comply with up to date Health & Safety legislation
• An Assessor or Training Consultant will be allocated to each apprentice and will provide you with regular feedback on progress
• Reviews by the Assessor or Training Consultant will take place at least once every 6-12 weeks
• If training is delivered in the workplace, an assessor will visit your apprentice once every 2-4 weeks
• Funding and government incentive payments to assist with the cost of training

• To contribute towards training fees where applicable.
• To pay the apprentice a fair rate of pay; taking into account learner status, market forces and your own pay policy. The minimum hourly rate for apprentices in England is currently £5.28 (raising to £6.40 in April 2024).
• To provide each apprentice with a contract of employment, outlining the terms and conditions of their job. 
• To provide each apprentice with an induction into the workplace, this should include all Health & Safety regulations specific to your industry.
• To provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as necessary.
• To support the achievement of the qualification by ensuring the apprentice produces relevant work by set target dates.
• Ensure the apprentice is provided with the time needed to attend day release training sessions and for tutor and training consultant visits if applicable.
• Appoint a nominated supervisor to mentor the apprentice through their training.
• Ensure that you have the proper pension provision in place should this be applicable. The Pensions Regulator explains the requirements needed to fulfill the scheme in your workplace.

All our current apprenticeship programmes can be found via the top navigation under apprenticeships. We offer apprenticeships in various course areas including automotive, business, construction, childcare, engineering, hairdressing, barbering and healthcare.

If you are interested in recruiting an apprentice, please email our Business Development Team at business@bcot.ac.uk.

We will check our files and recommend suitable candidates for your consideration. If there are no suitable candidates held on file then we can assist by:

• Advertising the vacancy free of charge on the National Apprenticeship Service vacancy website and across our social media channels: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Screening any subsequent applicants to ensure they qualify for the Apprenticeship and match your criteria
• Provide you with a short list of suitable candidates

Yes. Apprenticeships are not only for school and college leavers seeking employment; your existing staff can also enjoy the benefits. Employers find that training their existing staff through an apprenticeship programme is a cost effective training solution.

Aspiral Learning offer a wide range of apprenticeships (including a management degree apprenticeship), with some programmes starting at any point throughout the year, please contact the team to discuss in further detail.

Yes, apprenticeship employer incentive payments are available. Employers who hire an apprentice 16 - 18 years of age at enrolment, who are NEW employees and are NEW to apprenticeship standards, are entitled to a £1000 Government incentive payment. 

Incentive payments are payable in two instalments of 50% after 90 days and 50% after 365 days.

Employers are not required to pay National Insurance contributions for apprentices under the age of 25 at enrolment and earning less than £43,000 per year.

All apprenticeship employers in England can now access the full benefits of the Education and Skills Funding Agency's (ESFA), Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account. The service provides employers with control over how to pay for apprenticeship training, manage current apprentices on their programmes, and recruit new apprentices. 

We have created a how-to guide providing a step by step explanation and useful video tutorials to assist in creating a DAS account.