Hiring an apprentice allows you to invest in the future of your business by teaching someone your trade in a way that works for you.  

By taking on an apprentice through Bicton College, you’ll receive support throughout the duration of the apprenticeship, from finding and hiring suitable candidates to monitoring their progress. 

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At Adaero, we rely on skilled professionals who are adaptable and forward-thinking, and this apprenticeship provides an excellent opportunity to develop exactly the kind of talent the industry needs.

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Ian Steel, Managing Director of Adaero Precision Components

How can apprenticeships help your business?

There are many reasons to take on an apprentice: 

• Train staff to fit your individual business needs
• Fill skills gaps, without the cost of recruitment, picking from talented and motivated candidates
• Increase productivity and your bottom line
• Build loyalty and dedication, with employees who are invested in your business from the very start of their career
• Offer on-the-job training in a safe working environment
• Build a culture of learning and development
• Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Get ongoing support from a dedicated Apprenticeship Advisor throughout the length of the apprenticeship
• A range of funding options
• Financial incentives of £1,000 per apprentice if you hire someone aged between 16 and 18

How can we help you?

Our Apprenticeship Recruitment Service can help save you both time and money. We’ll support you in the following ways: 

• Recruitment and selection, including advertising vacancies
• Registering with the Government’s apprenticeships Digital Account Service, which is required for any business taking on an apprentice
• Supporting you with funding and grant opportunities, ensuring you maximise your budget and cover the costs of hiring an apprentice
• Mentoring your apprentice every step of the way, throughout both college and work life

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On average, our Apprenticeship Recruitment Service can save you £750 per apprentice in recruitment costs.

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I find it really refreshing having a young member to my team, and I think it’s important we start teaching the next generation of chefs as young as possible!

I firmly believe that on the job learning is the most effective way of teaching a young chef, as it allows them to experience first-hand what working in a kitchen is like.

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Ross Sloan, Head Chef at Kota Collective

What support is available?

The great news is that there’s lots of support available to help fund the training cost of your apprenticeship, as well as the £1,000 incentive for every young apprentice you hire under the age of 19. What you pay towards the apprenticeship will depend on the size of your business, and the age of the apprentice you employ:

Small and medium companies 
If your payroll is less than £3 million annually, then training will be 95% funded.  

However, if you employ someone who is either aged between 16 and 21, or someone aged between 22 and 24 if they are a care leaver or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), then the training will be 100% funded.

Large companies 
If your payroll is above £3 million annually, then you will already be paying 0.5% of your annual pay bill into the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. The cost of training your apprentice will be funded by your Apprenticeship Levy allowance.  

Additional funding and support 
Regardless of the size of your business, you could be eligible for an additional £1,000 incentive if you take on an apprentice who is either aged between 16 and 21, or someone aged between 22 and 24 if they are a care leaver or have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This can be spent on anything from uniform and materials to travel costs. 

There are also a range of bursaries available to help apprentices with costs like transport and accommodation.