What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are aimed at young people aged 16 to 25, enabling them to work towards NVQ qualifications up to Level III. They are therefore perfect for people entering the industry who want to work and earn at the same time, and may also be the ideal route for your current employees to expand their skills and gain formal qualifications in a specific trade.

The apprentice would usually attend college one day a week or on block release for a number of weeks (depending on what best suits both your and their needs).

How does it work?

There are two situations which may apply:

• You have a suitable candidate(s) for the Apprenticeship programme;
• You would like to take on an apprentice.

In both situations the Apprenticeship will be arranged directly with the college and we provide help and advice on the delivery of the programme. There will be an initial visit to discuss your requirements and topics such as Health & Safety.

Recruitment and selection - all potential candidates are interviewed at the college and have to pass an assessment test which determines their suitability and the type of Apprenticeship most appropriate to them. We will assist you with the recruitment and selection of both external and internal candidates.

Reviewing progress and ongoing support - there will be regular meetings with your contact from our Work Based Learning Team, who will usually visit you on site.

Assessment and provision of work-based evidence - the college will provide training. As part of an NVQ, apprentices are required to provide work-based evidence. You will be required to support them and ensure that this is built into their training / role.

Most Apprenticeships start in September to tie in with the academic year. If you have employees you would like to place on an Apprenticeship, it is therefore advisable to contact us prior to September so that we can begin the process, as this can take a few months to set up.

Do I have to pay?

You will pay your usual wage to the apprentice who will be employed by you. There is no cost for apprentices aged 16 to 18; Leeds College of Building will pay the tuition fees.  A fee is payable for apprentices aged 19 or over. Funding received by the college to cover the cost of training from the LSC for Apprenticehips in this age bracket is reduced by 48-50%, therefore it is a requirement that employers contribute a fee towards the cost of training of their apprentice/apprentices if they are 19 and above.  The fee will be a nominal charge and will in no way represent the full 48-50% difference in funding.

For 2009/2010 the fee will be £450 per learner (this has been frozen at the 2008/9 rates but could be subject to an increase next year)

Please contact us if you require further details on 0113 222 6023.

What training will be given?

• Practical skills in their chosen occupation plus the associated theory;
• Health and safety in the workplace;
• Key Skills / Basic Skills (Maths, English and IT).

What qualifications are available?

Training will last up to two years for an Apprenticeship and approximately three years for an Advanced Apprenticeship, depending on the craft occupation. During this time the apprentices should achieve NVQ Level III. The majority of assessment is work-based evidence, i.e. photos, witness statements, invoices, which must be collected on site and verified.

Are there any restrictions to the scheme?

Apprentices have to be aged 16 to 25 upon commencement of the Apprenticeship. The employer must satisfy various Health & Safety requirements.

What do I do next?

If you would like to find out more information about our Apprenticeships or discuss potential opportunities, please call our Work Based Learning Unit on 0113 222 6023, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or complete an online application form.

A brief summary of employer's role in an Apprenticeship scheme...

• Provide the apprentice with a comprehensive induction to the company;
• Explain their role, your policies, procedures, Health & Safety regulations and conditions of employment;
• Work with us to identify learning opportunities, plan and implement a suitable training programme and review on a regular basis;
• Allow apprentices to attend off-the-job training sessions;
• Provide support to apprentices and allow sufficient time for them to compile their work-based evidence portfolio;
• Attend review meetings with college representatives approx. once every 12 weeks.