Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeship are rapidly becoming the pathway of choice for young people wishing to develop a professional career. They provide valuable experience and training from experienced people while
studying for nationally recognised qualifications with support from a professional training provider. They improve employability, enhance career development , and provide the opportunity to “earn while you learn”.

Professional bodies eg IOP (The Institute of Paralegals), are now supporting apprenticeships as a valid and preferred career pathway to professional qualifications within their sectors.

Employers are benefitting from the influx of ambitious young people who can be trained to provide an ever increasing contribution to the workforce as they progress through their programme.
NLC Award Winning learning resources unique delivery methods and professional support team ensure high achievement rates in record time with a minimum disruption to the working environment.

Apprenticeships available through NLC

• Health and Social Care
• Business Administration***
• Team Leading
• Customer Service***
• Warehousing and Distribution
• Retail

Recruitment
Apprenticeship candidates can be nominated by the employer from their existing workforce, recruited by the employer or suitable candidates will be recruited by NLC.

Cost
Wages are paid by the employer (minimum £95 per week)

Training assessment and certification:- Fully funded for 16 to 19 year old*

Employer contribution may required for older candidates. A contribution may also be required from larger employers

How long - A typical apprenticeship programme will take an average period of 6 months to complete. Candidates can then progress to an Advanced Apprenticeship (level 3) which can take up to 9 month. They can then go on to take further professional qualifications within their chosen sector. Many apprenticeships develop transferable skills and accreditations which are equally valid in other sectors to facilitate flexibility in career development.

Employment status- Apprentices are full time employees of the placement company and receive a minimum of £95 per week ( £2.50 per hour) at 16-19 years old and £3.40 per hour at 19-25 years old

Time to study - Apprentices are allowed time during working hours to study towards there qualification and, where required, time for off the job training and assessment.

Training and assessment - When the apprentice first starts, an individual learning plan is development with the employer and training provider. Any gaps in the training and experience being provided by the employer will be filled by the training provider by on or off the job training supported by distance learning.

Apprenticeship framework
Each apprenticeship framework consists of a group of qualifications
• NVQ certificate or diploma - assesses competency to nationally recognised standards
• Technical certificate- develops and assesses underpinning skills and knowledge
• Functional Skills - develops job related literacy and numeracy skills

There are some mandatory units in the qualifications and several optional units that can be chosen to suit the job role and experience you are gaining with the employer.

Main obligations

Apprentice

To act at all times as a loyal and dedicated employee of the company that employs them

To carry out the work required to complete the apprenticeship qualifications in the timeframe agreed

To remain in the apprenticeship placement until the qualification is achieved

Employer
To provide the training and experience required to enable the candidate to achieve their qualifications as agreed in the formulation of the individual learning plan.

Provide time during normal working hours for the candidate to study for their qualification and undertake training and assessment in the workplace or remotely.

Training provider

Provide support, accreditation, assessment and training where required

Notes

*Candidates who were 18 or under on the 1st August 2010 are fully funded for both level2 and level 3 programmes( excluding wages costs) A contribution is required from large Employers with over 1000 employers of £1000

** Business Administration and Customer Service apprenticeships can cover a wide range of sectors with the programme tailored to meet the job role and type of business eg office, restaurant, tele-marketing solicitors accountants etc

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