Develop Your Workforce with an Apprentice
Hiring an apprentice through Boston College will allow you to develop an employee who will work to your standards, follow your own tried and tested working methods and grow alongside your business
The result is a focused, skilled and qualified member of the team, who can strengthen your workforce and help take your business forward.
Benefits of Apprenticeships
Many businesses across the UK say that apprentices improved the quality of their product or service, and that the cost of apprenticeship training paid for itself within one to two years through increased productivity.
🡆 Productivity in their workplace had improved by 76%*
🡆 75% said that apprenticeships improved the quality of their product or service*
(statistics provided by gov.uk)Â
Plan For The Future -Â Employing an apprentice is a cost effective way for new skills to be shared across your workforce, to help you develop new products and move into new markets. Surveys also suggest that customers like to buy from employers who have apprentices.
Hear more from local accountancy firm Dexter & Sharpe on how employing apprentices benefits their business.
Fill Your Skills Gap -Â A Boston College apprenticeship provides a structured approach to training, tailored to your business needs, to ensure development takes place and relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours are gained both in the workplace and classroom. Your apprentice could also have the opportunity to gain an insight into various roles and departments within your business - giving them the potential to progress, and in time to be one of your most knowledgeable employees.Â
Develop Your Existing Workforce - Higher level qualifications such as Degrees or Masters can be achieved through apprenticeship programmes. This means your apprentice can become a highly qualified and experienced employee, whilst working as a valuable member of your team.
Apprenticeship Courses and Levels
Boston College offers apprenticeships in 12 different course areas, so whatever industry you are in, there will be an apprenticeship to suit your business. The table below shows the apprenticeship levels and comparable qualifications to give you a better idea of the level of apprentice you are looking for.
Boston College offer apprenticeships in the following course areas:
🡆 Accounting
🡆 Automotive Technologies (Motor Vehicle
🡆 Bricklaying
🡆 Business
🡆 Customer Service
🡆 Early Years
🡆 Electrical
🡆 Engineering
🡆 Hairdressing
🡆 Health and Social Care
🡆 Plumbing
🡆 Teaching
| Apprenticeship Level | Level | Equivalent Education Level |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 2 | Five GCSEs passes at 9-4 (grades A* - C) |
| Advanced | 3 | Two A level passes |
| Higher | 4,5,6,7 | Foundation degree and above |
Apprenticeship Levy
To help fund apprenticeships, the Government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017. Large employers with a pay bill of more than £3 million in wages, are liable to pay 0.5% of this, which is held in a digital account ready to be used for apprenticeship training.
When do you need to pay the levy?
As an employer, you will have to pay the levy each month if you:
🡆 Have an annual payroll bill of more than £3 million
🡆 Are connected to other companies or charities for Employment Allowance which in total have an annual payroll bill of more than £3 million
Your annual payroll bill is all payments to employees that are subject to Employer Class 1 Secondary National Insurance Contributions (NICs), such as wages, bonuses and commissions.
Your payroll bill doesn't include, the earnings of employees under the age of 16, any employees who aren't subject to UK NICs legislation and on earnings which Class 1A NICs are payable, such as benefits in kind.
How much do you need to pay?
Employers who are not connected to another company or charity will have an Apprenticeship Levy allowance of £15,000 each year. The allowance reduces the amount of Apprenticeship Levy you have to pay by £15,000 across the year. This means that only employers with an annual payroll bill of more than £3 million will pay the levy.
You cannot carry over any unused allowance into the next tax year. Connected companies or charities will only have one £15,000 allowance to share between them.
If you start or stop being an employer part way through the tax year you can use your full annual Apprenticeship Levy allowance against the amount of the levy that you own.
For more information, please visit the gov.uk website
Employ an Apprentice in Seven Easy Steps
Employing an apprentice with Boston College is simpler than you think. These seven steps walk you through the process, so you know what to expect when employing your apprentice:
1. Your Vacancy - The first step is to contact the College's Apprenticeship Team to discuss your vacancy and requirements. Our apprenticeships team can be contacted via phone on 01205 313238 or email apprenticeships@boston.ac.uk .
2. The Apprenticeship - The College's Apprenticeship Team will ensure that your vacancy is suitable for an apprenticeship and will suggest any revisions which might help it work more effectively.
3. Advertising - The College will advertise your vacancy for FREE on the Government's 'Find an Apprentice' website, and match it with any potential applicants on our database.
4. Pre-screening - We will monitor the level of applications for your vacancy and screen applicants according to your entry criteria before forwarding them to you.
5. Initial Assessment - The Apprenticeship Team will make sure that your potential apprentice is suitable for the training programme, through their robust initial assessment process.
6. Training Needs - The College will work with you and your apprentice to develop a personalised delivery plan which meets everyone's needs and expectations.Â
7. Paperwork - You will be assigned a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator who will complete all of the necessary 'start-up' paperwork with you and your apprentice and follow up all of your additional training requirements. You will also decide together on a start date for your new apprentice.
Your Questions Answered
Do I have to pay an apprentice?
Yes. The current minimum wage for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour but you can choose to pay your apprentice more. This rate is for apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those aged 19 or over who are in their first year. All other apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage dependent on their age.
Employing an apprentice: Pay and conditions for apprentices - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What are the terms of employment and working hours of an apprentice?
An apprentice must be paid for a minimum of 30 hours per week, which includes time spent training at Boston College. They are employed by you under your employment contract which you will draw up on recruitment. Terms are becoming more flexible for employees who work less than 30 hours. As a minimum, all apprentices need to be in training for at least 12 months and one day.
Off-the-job’ training can be flexible and doesn’t have to mean 1 day out of the workplace every week. For example, training can take place: at the apprentice’s place of work; at a college or university or with a training provider; online (apprenticeship training must not be delivered solely by self-directed distance learning)
A useful guide to ‘off the job’ can be found here :
Off-The-Job Training Infographic
Your apprenticeship co-ordinator will be able to discuss off-the-job training with you and what this will mean for your business.
Can I train an existing member of staff through an apprenticeship?
Yes, in fact many employees are using the Government's new funding strategy to develop their workforce. Your employee will need to meet the entry requirements of the chosen apprenticeship. All apprentices have to study English and Maths if they haven't already achieved a Level 2 qualification in these subjects.
What other pay or benefits will I need to provide?
Your apprentice should spend a minimum of 20% 'off the job' training. You must pay your apprentice for time spent training or studying for their apprenticeship qualification, both at work and at college. You must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles, including paid annual leave, sick pay, company benefits such as child care schemes, and any support you offer, such as coaching and mentoring.
Apprenticeship Talent Pool
If you would like some help with apprenticeship recruitment and would like to get involved with Boston College's Apprenticeship Talent Pool for the next generation of your workforce, click the link below to register your details.
Need Some More Advice?
If you are unsure if employing an apprentice is right for your business, or if you have any additional questions you would like to ask, you can contact the Boston College Apprenticeship Team on 01205 313238 or email apprenticeships@boston.ac.uk. Our industry specialist advisers are on hand to help you understand apprenticeships and how they can help develop and grow your business.