Information for apprentices

There are two main ways to become an apprentice:

1. Apply for a vacancy with an employer offering apprenticeships - Apprenticeship Vacancies.
2. Upskill in your current job by starting an apprenticeship with your existing employer.

What you might earn as an apprentice depends on:

• Job sector
• Location
• Level of apprenticeship 

Apprenticeship minimum wage

There is an apprenticeship minimum wage - currently £8 per hour - but many employers pay more.

Minimum wage entitlements for apprentices depend on:

• Whether you started as an apprentice or an existing employee.
• Your age.
• How much of the apprenticeship you have completed.

New apprenticeship recruits

If you start an apprenticeship with a new employer your wages will depend on your age.

For 16-18 year olds

• As a minimum, you are entitled to the apprenticeship minimum wage - currently £8 per hour.
• If you turn 19 during your apprenticeship and have completed your first year (of an apprenticeship lasting more than one year), you become entitled to the to the national minimum wage for your age group.

For 19 year olds and over

• As a minimum, you are entitled to the apprenticeship minimum wage - currently £8 - for the first year of your apprenticeship.
• If your apprenticeship lasts more than one year, after the first year you are entitled to the national minimum wage for your age group.

Wage entitlements for existing staff

If you start an apprenticeship with your existing employer, you are entitled to stay on the same wage for the duration of your apprenticeship, regardless of your age.

Training fees and funding

Apprenticeship training is funded from contributions made by the government and, in some instances, your employer. This means you will not pay for any of your training and won't need to take out any student loans. You'll just need to cover the cost of your day-to-day expenses, such as lunch and travel, and may also need to buy specialist equipment depending on the job. 

Benefits

Depending on your circumstances, you may still be eligible to claim Universal Credit whilst you are completing an apprenticeship to help with your living costs. Visit the Benefits calculators - GOV.UK website to find out how to check your eligibility.

Financial support

If you are in need of financial support to secure or complete an apprenticeship, there are organisations that might be able to support you, depending on your circumstances. For more information on what is available, visit Support for apprentices.

There are over 700 approved apprenticeships available and with so much choice, it can be daunting to know what type of apprenticeship you'd like to do. Some of the following pages can help inform your decision:

• I Can Be A... Career Wizard - Select your interests on the Career Wizard and you'll get suggestions on careers that match your interests. This website also has lots of information on different sectors and job roles, which all lead to organisations in the local area, so you can see what roles are available in the county.
• Skills England - Approved Apprenticeship Standard - browse the full list of apprenticeship standards that are approved for delivery in England.
• National Apprenticeship Service - search through apprenticeships by job sector and interests.

Sourcing your own opportunities

It is important to remember that you need to have an employer in order to complete an apprenticeship. If you can't see any opportunities that you'd like to do, why not try contacting employers you would like to work with and see if they'd be interested in taking you on as an apprentice? It may also help to ask if they could give you some work experience so you could find out more about the jobs there, whilst demonstrating the skills you can bring to the company. 

If they are interested, we can help them to get the apprenticeship set up by giving expert advice and guidance, and supporting them along the way. They can also find out more information by visiting Information for employers.

Once you find the right apprenticeship, you can apply for it just like you would for any other job. If you find the vacancy using GOV.UK's find an apprenticeship service, you can usually apply directly through the job advert. If you can't apply directly, there will be information on how you can apply, such as a link to the application form on the employer's website.

It is likely that you will need a CV and a covering letter to apply. If you need help, the National Careers Service has a guide on how to create a CV and I Can Be A... also has a helpful CV Wizard tool that you can use.

Application tips and advice

The National Apprenticeship Service and The Mason Trust have some great guidance on applications and below are just a few of our top hints and tips:

• Apply, apply, apply - it's a good idea to apply for a few apprenticeships at a time, this increases your chances and means you're not waiting for a response from one employer. It usually takes a few applications to find the right apprenticeship, so if you don't hear back or get an interview, don't take it personally - it's normal and happens to everyone.
• Tailor your applications - when applying for multiple apprenticeships, it can be tempting to submit exactly the same CV and cover letter to several vacancies to save time - but don't. Employers want to know why you have applied for their. apprenticeship vacancy, so it's important to tailor your application to what the employer is looking for, as detailed in the job description. Employers also want to know what attracts you to their organisation, so be sure to show you've researched and know the company's aims and values.
• Ask for feedback - if you aren't successful with an application, don't be afraid to ask for feedback. Employers don't often provide feedback on your application/interview unless you ask for it, so don't be shy in requesting it. Feedback is a great way of finding out development areas from an employer that you can work on for your next application or interview.
• Take a deep breath - it's normal to feel nervous when you're applying for an apprenticeship or waiting to hear back from an employer. Try to find out the closing date of the application as this may give you a clue about when you'll hear back.

Who delivers the apprenticeship training?

Before an employer hires an apprentice they will have partnered with an approved training provider who will have agreed to deliver the training for the apprentice. There are a variety of training providers operating in Norfolk that are either based locally or work nationally and can deliver training in the area. 

If you would like to find out more about apprenticeship training provision in Norfolk, take a look at our Apprenticeship providers page for more information on over 50 training providers operating in the local area.

Where will I go for apprenticeship training?

Most of your time on an apprenticeship is spent working and learning with your employer but you'll spend at least 6 hours of your work week completing 'off-the-job' training for your apprenticeship. The title 'off-the-job' training can be a bit misleading as there is lots of 'off-the-job' training that can happen in the workplace such as internal training courses, mentoring sessions and attending events. The best way of thinking about 'off-the-job' training is any learning or development activity you do, regardless of location, that you wouldn't typically do as part of your day-to-day tasks. As you'll see below, your apprenticeship training with your training provider might even be done at your workplace too:

There are various ways you might do your 'off-the-job' apprenticeship training and we've highlighted a few of the most common ways below:

• Day release - attending a college or training centre once a week throughout the duration of your apprenticeship.
• Block release - attending a college or training centre every day for a extended period such as a 1-2 full weeks or completing all your training in a front loaded block at the start of your apprenticeship. This often involves staying away from home during these periods.
• At the workplace - a tutor will come out to your workplace to deliver training so there is no need to attend a college or training centre.

With all of these options you may find there is a blended approach with some sessions delivered online.

What will I be doing during my training?

What you will be doing will depend on your apprenticeship and the programme that has been developed by your training provider, so training for the same apprenticeship might look different between each provider. To give you an idea, here are just a few examples of what you could expect from your training:

• Face to face workshops
• Online workshops
• On-demand, self guided e-learning modules
• 1-2-1 tutor sessions
• Classroom sessions
• Innovative learning - gamification, VR, AR etc.

Some providers may stick to one type of learning, whilst others might have a mix.

How are apprenticeships assessed?

During your apprenticeship, you'll be assessed to make sure you're achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for your chosen apprenticeship.

Following this you will complete and apprenticeship assessment. How apprentices are assessed at the end of their apprenticeship changed from August 2025. End point assessment is now referred to as apprenticeship assessment, and gateway is now gateway to completion. Apprenticeship assessments are now no longer restricted to take part at the end of the programme; they may take place earlier depending on the standard and if the apprentice is ready. You will complete this to make sure you're fully competent in your specific occupation, this is carried out by an independent assessment organisation. It usually includes a practical demonstration of your skills as well as a discussion with an assessor that demonstrates your learning and your ability to do your chosen occupation.

The assessment organisation must be independent from the training provider and a list of assessment organisations can be found here.