Apprenticeship FAQs

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes that are designed to help employers train people for specific job roles. At the same time, apprentices get a paying job with valuable training while they work towards a nationally recognised apprenticeship standard or framework (in devolved nations).

Anyone in England aged 16 and over, whether employed, unemployed, or leaving school. There is no upper age limit. 

No formal qualifications are required to do an apprenticeship, but some employers may ask for GCSEs (level 4+) in English, maths, and science.

If you are under 19 you must be paid at least the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage of £4.81 an hour, however many employers pay more than this and the average weekly wage is £200.

If you are 19 after completing the first year of your apprenticeship, you must be paid at least the full National Minimum Wage.

All apprentices are employed and have a contract of employment. You are counted as a regular employee, so you get all the benefits, such as holiday and sick leave.

During your apprenticeship programme, you will be working towards a nationally recognised apprenticeship standard or framework (devolved nations). This is accredited by relevant industry regulatory bodies and will help further you in your chosen career. Depending on the type of programme you enrol onto, you may also have the chance to work towards other recognised qualifications and functional skills in Maths and English.

An apprenticeship is at least 12 months. The duration of an apprenticeship depends on the course and the apprentice's ability. An apprenticeship can take between one and four years to complete, depending on the apprenticeship level, the apprentice’s ability, and the industry sector.

The apprenticeship is a work-based qualification. Your learning coach will observe you through teaching sessions face-to-face or virtually and support you in building an apprenticeship portfolio of evidence throughout your programme.

Across the length of an apprenticeship you have teaching sessions every four to eight weeks.

If you are completing a Standard towards the end of your apprenticeship, you will have a meeting with your coach and manager to determine whether you are ready for your End-point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is completed to assess the knowledge, skills and behaviours that you have learnt throughout the apprenticeship. You will practice parts of the EPA assessment throughout the apprenticeship, and you will only take the final assessment when you feel ready. The content of the EPA will vary, depending on the course you are completing.

There are three levels of Apprenticeship:

• Level 2: Intermediate Level Apprenticeship (equivalent to five GCSEs)
• Level 3: Advanced Level Apprenticeship (equivalent to two A-Levels)
• Level 4, 5 and 6: Higher Apprenticeship (Foundation degree level)
  

Applying for an apprenticeship is like applying for a job, so you will need to complete an application. You can browse our apprenticeship vacancies in the website's personal section.

This depends on your contract with your employer. If you are on an apprenticeship contract, you may have the opportunity to stay with the same company and progress to the next-level apprenticeship.

Many apprentices are hired as permanent team members, so they continue in the same role once they complete the apprenticeship. There may also be an opportunity to progress to the next level apprenticeship.

Currently, we only need to keep evidence of learners' completion for 5 years from the completion date, and we can provide either digital copies (where applicable) or letters of achievement.

If you need to get in touch, please contact certification@lifetimetraining.co.uk

Lifetime can provide PDF copies of diplomas and functional skills certificates (e.g. English and maths), as well as digital records of achievement for standard certificates following an end-point assessment.

If you would like to purchase replacement paper certificates, please contact our Learner Services department using the following details;

• Phone: 0117 3142 804
• Email: learnerservices@lifetimetraining.co.uk

• Functional Skills (English/Maths/ICT): £44 per certificate
• Diplomas/Standards (Innovate Awarding): £30 per certificate

Lifetime can only hold certificate evidence for seven years after completion, as set out by GDPR and ESFA regulations. After this period, if we have sufficient evidence of completion and you need proof of completing a qualification, we can provide a Letter of Achievement upon request.

You can contact Customer Support via the live chat or:

• Email: support@lifetimetraining.co.uk
• Call: 0117 3048 558.