What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme aligned to an occupation or job role. Apprenticeship programme are designed by employers to ensure they are industry leading and support career development.

The purpose of an Apprenticeship is to help people to gain new knowledge, skills and behaviours so they can develop or improve their competency in an occupational role. They can be used to help new staff develop in their roles and offer existing staff career development qualifications. The apprenticeship standard chosen must relate to the job role of the person who will be training.

The duration of apprenticeships vary from 13 months to 4 years, which is aligned with the apprenticeship requirements. The exact duration will be outlined on the relevant apprenticeship standards, which can be access via the link to Institute for Apprenticeships website.   

Apprentices will: 

• Spend at least 6hrs per week of their employed time completing learning & development activities and implementing their new skill in the workplace. 

• Gain official certification of skills and qualifications often with accreditation from professional awarding bodies or professional membership.

Apprenticeships are equivalent to academic levels: