I work closely with employers each and every day, so I know that some businesses have doubts about hiring an apprentice – whether they’re concerned about the commitment it will take to train them, the costs involved or the quality of candidates. Plus, the process can appear confusing. 

The truth is, apprenticeships are not only a great way to expand or upskill your workforce, they bring so many benefits to businesses, from a fresh perspective to improved team productivity. 

Apprentices gain real life work experience and on-the-job training whilst studying an apprenticeship standard - a recognised qualification created by employers in your industry and linked to industry standards. 

As an employer, you benefit from a passionate recruit who is eager to learn. You’re able to develop and mentor them with the support of your apprenticeship provider, ensuring they’re equipped with the skills and experience that you need them to have.

Here at Newcastle College, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to become an apprenticeship employer. That’s why have a dedicated Business Development team to support you through every step of your journey, from your initial enquiries to arranging interviews with candidates.

The journey will usually look something like:

  • Get in touch with us and let us know you’re interested in hiring an apprentice

  • We’ll arrange to visit you and talk through your needs and expectations

  • We’ll work with you to complete an employer skills scanand identify the right apprenticeship standard for you

  • We’ll support you to set up your digital apprenticeship service account

  • Based on your needs and expectations, we will match you with suitable, pre-vetted candidates and even arrange your interviews.

 

It’s Not as Expensive as You Think

Many employers are confused by the costs attached to hiring an apprentice, from paying their wages to costs attached to recruitment, training and what you’ll pay your apprenticeship provider. Some businesses pay into a levy while others don’t.

The truth is that there are fewer costs attached than you may think, and depending on the size of your business, you might not need to pay anything at all!

If you have less than 50 employees with a wage bill of under £3million and want to hire an apprentice aged 16-18 – it’s free! Not only do you not need to pay anything, but the government will give you £1,000 to support you.

And if you hire an apprentice aged 19+, you’ll pay just a 5% co-investment which can be paid in instalments. As an example, if you recruit a 20-year-old apprentice on an apprenticeship standard with a funding band of £27,000, you’ll pay just £1,350. Our Business Development Team can help you navigate funding bands.

If you have more than 50 employees or a wage bill of £3million or more, funds are taken directly from your Apprenticeship Levy account (which you’re already paying into!). Our Team will support you with your account.


We Help You Find the Right Candidate

Making sure our employers and our apprentices are right for each other is so important to us. Candidates are always pre-vetted by us and they often come from our college study programmes, so we know we’re providing you with a great candidate.

With apprenticeships available from Level 2 to degree level, you can be specific about the skill level you’re looking for.

Our motto is ‘Right apprentice, right employer, right course’ and we’re committed to it!


Supporting Off-The-Job Training

We know you want your apprentices to be hands-on and learning on the job, so the idea of providing your apprentice with 20% off-the-job training might sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be!

Here at Newcastle College, we deliver a minimum of six hours of off-the-job training each week during our term time and provide you with support for the rest.

During the time they spend here on campus, apprentices will learn in state-of-the-art industry standard facilities, from expert and technically skills teachers, who deliver the best possible learning experience.

You’ll also be closely involved with planning off-the-job training with a dedicated vocational expert Skills Trainer. They’ll discuss any additional requirements you may have to support both you and your apprentice and will help tailor learning to your company’s unique requirements.

Whatever your skills needs are and whatever your goals, our team can work closely with you to find the right solution. Get in touch for a chat by emailing apprenticeships@ncl-coll.ac.uk