Employer FAQs
A: If your apprentice is under 19, you will need to pay them the apprentice minimum wage which is currently set at £2.50 per hour or £95 per week. You are free to pay your apprentice above this minimum wage and many employers increase wages as skills develop. The average apprentice earns £170 net pay per week.
If your apprentice is 19 when they have completed the first year of their Apprenticeship, you will need to pay them at least the full National Minimum Wage.
A: Yes, apprentices are paid by their employer while they are training and learning, but employers are entitled to funding from the Skills Funding Agency to help with costs of the training.
A: There is no set length for an Apprenticeship – it will depend on the type of qualifications and the industry sector you are in. Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete.
A: No, Apprenticeships are available to anyone after leaving full-time education at 16.
A: The minimum number of working hours per week for an apprentice is 16, although Apprentices usually work for more than 30 hours per week.
A: Yes, like any other employee, you will need to give your apprentice at least 20 days’ paid holiday per year plus Bank Holidays.