Frequently Asked Questions

What are Apprenticeships?

As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally-recognised qualifications. Anyone living in England, over 16 and not in full-time education can apply.

Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.50 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more.


Key benefits:

  • earn a salary
  • get paid holidays
  • receive training
  • gain qualifications
  • learn job-specific skills.

How can I become an apprentice?

Apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on the main Government website for Apprenticeships. Click here to register and post your CV


I am an employer. Why should I take on an apprentice?

Skills shortages are still one of the biggest threats to UK business. Apprenticeships can help businesses across all industries by offering a route to harness fresh talent. If you have trained staff with the right skills for the job they can do a wider range of tasks and take on new responsibilities - this can help to reduce skill shortages, minimise staff turnover and workplace accidents, and increase productivity.


Taking on an apprentice is cost effective because your people can learn while they’re on the job and the government contributes to the costs of learning.


There are clear financial benefits to employers and their investment in Apprenticeships is repaid many times over.


A recent study by the University of Warwick Institute of Employment Research found that the costs of Apprenticeship training are recouped relatively quickly, and that where the investment is nurtured, the returns are significant.


Another study by Sheffield University measured the long term financial benefit to investing in Apprenticeships. A Level 3 Advanced apprentice will generate an additional lifetime benefit to themselves and their employer of £105,000 compared to someone who does not gain an Apprenticeship. The Level 2 additional benefit is £73,000. This represents a gain of £16 for every £1 of taxpayers’ money.


The Learning and Skills Council surveyed businesses throughout the UK on benefits of hiring an apprentice (Populus, January 2009). Of those surveyed:

  • 81% said that employing apprentices generated higher overall productivity for their company.
  • 66% said that their Apprenticeship Programme made them more competitive in their industry.
  • 92% said that their Apprenticeship Programmed better motivated staff and increased job satisfaction.
  • 74% said that apprentices tended to be more loyal, remaining at their company longer than non-apprentices.

How can I recruit an apprentice?

Apprenticeship vacancies (www.apprenticeships.org.uk) is the official online recruitment system for Apprenticeships in England and is managed by the National Apprenticeship Service. The system enables quality vacancies from employers like you to be viewed and applied for nationally by thousands of candidates that register onto our system, making it easy for you to attract and recruit apprentices.


Apprenticeship vacancies lets candidates search for your vacancies using selected criteria such as geography, occupation, job role and keywords, in addition they can save their favourite searches. The system can be managed by learning providers on your behalf or by you and is designed to manage the recruitment process end to end through to successful appointment of your apprentice.


What should I do next?

Contact us at UH Ventures in the first instance on 01707 398793 or info@uhventures.co.uk