Frequently Asked Questions

The general guidelines are: Apprentices do not contribute to their training costs. Companies Contribute in the following way: The Government levy system means Companies with over 50 employees will pay a levy of 0.5% on any part of their wage bill that is in excess of £3 million. A Company has less than 50 employees and a wage bill below £3 million may have to pay 5% contribution to the cost of training. These are general guidelines for further detailed information please contact TDR Training directly and we will be happy to give you further details.

Apprentice minimum wage is £3.90 per hour if you are under 19, or are over 19 and in your first year of an apprenticeship. Following that, apprentices over 19 are paid National Minimum Wage for their age. However, some companies will pay more, depending on the level of training.

There is no upper age limit when applying for an apprenticeship, you should be 16 or over, not in full-time education and living in England. You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still in school.

A typical working week will be at least 30 hours but typically between 37-40 hours. This usually includes a day release to a college or training provider to complete a knowledge certificate. Whilst at work your employer will provide on-the-job training to ensure you are becoming competent within the role and an assessor will visit you in your workplace to check the progress of your training.

If you are more hands-on, and learn better by ‘doing’, then an apprenticeship may be what you are looking for. Unlike A levels, an apprenticeship doesn’t include lengthy exams. Instead, your competency is assessed while you work in your new job. You may complete a knowledge certificate as part of your course, but this is assessed through assignments and course work. An apprenticeship makes you a more employable candidate when compared to those that progress from A-Levels directly to the university. This is because you will have developed real-world skills and experience of the working world, as well as your qualification. Finally, you will be earning a wage from day one of your apprenticeship!

With the way that apprenticeships work now, there is huge scope for future progression. You could continue your apprenticeship as a school leaver, right up to degree level. All while you earn. Once you have completed your apprenticeship, from the transferable skills you have developed, you could progress within your chosen company, another business, or another sector entirely! Your apprenticeship qualifications are yours to keep, and not your employers. They stay with you for your entire career.

Depending on the apprenticeship and the role, usually a GCSE grade C or level 4 and above, or equivalent. You will be assessed and interviewed to match you to the right role. Even if you do not quite hit the required level, depending on your outlook and attitude, you may still be accepted as an apprentice, and given the chance to work towards functional skills in Maths & English.

An apprenticeship duration can be anything from 1-5 years, depending on the area and level in which you are training and apprentices are paid for the duration of the training.