Parents and Carers

You will have heard that the government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training (Raising the Participation Age or RPA). This is not the same as raising the school leaving age – young people do not have to stay in school but have a choice about what they do between the ages of 16 and 18 years.

Young people do need to continue in education or training but this could be full time study in school, college or even with a training provider. It could also be full time work or volunteering combined with education or training. Alternatively it could be as an apprentice.

What are Apprenticeships?

Apprentices all over Kent and the South East of England, as in the rest of the country, have a real job which enables them to ‘learn as they earn’.

Apprentices also have training which would give them a nationally recognised qualification. They are vocational qualifications designed specifically for the workplace. As with regular employees, apprentices earn a wage and will work alongside team members to gain industry knowledge and job specific skills.

Apprenticeships can be undertaken in a huge variety of different areas from accountancy to veterinary nursing, and business and administration to engineering. We have many opportunities waiting to be filled in Kent and across the South East of England.

What are the benefits of completing an apprenticeship?

Earning a salary – The minimum salary is £3.30 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more.

Paid holidays – An apprentice will be given at least 20 days’ paid holiday per year on top of bank holidays.

Gain qualifications – Apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications.

Learn job-specific skills – Apprenticeships are designed with the help of the employers in the industry, so they offer a structured programme that build skills needed to do a job well.

Build CV – Apprenticeships train in the skills employers want, they give apprentices choices in their career. Adding new skills to CVs, these could include customer service, communications, team-work, leadership and many more.

No university debt – Universities are charging around £9000 a year fees, add in a maintenance loan, which could be a debt of £45000 PLUS before even starting work. An apprenticeship allows you to pursue a career while earning a salary!

Who can do an Apprenticeship?

Anyone living in England, over 16 years old can apply to be an apprentice.

How is the qualification delivered?

Our apprenticeships are work-based, so they are delivered entirely in the workplace. A Runway assessor visits the workplace every 2/3 weeks. Our assessors assess in a number of ways – observation, written, verbal, witness testimonies from managers and work evidence.

How long does the Apprenticeship last?

Apprenticeships generally last 1 year but higher apprenticeships can take up to 4 years, after this apprentices decide with their employers whether they would like to continue with the same organisation or whether they think it is time to move on elsewhere.

After finishing, the majority of apprentices (85%) will stay in employment, with two-thirds (64%) staying with the same employer. Employers think that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications.

What qualifications would the Apprentice gain within the Apprenticeship?

NVQ (national vocational qualification)
Technical Certificate (underpinning theories)
Functional Skills in maths, English and with business Apprenticeships, ICT
ERR (employee rights and responsibilities)

How much will an apprentice earn?

The average gross weekly wage for an apprentice is £200. The minimum wage for apprentices is £3.30 per hour, but in reality many employers pay more than this. The actual amount that an apprentice will earn is very much dependant on the type of apprenticeship being undertaken, the region and the type of business involved. Some apprentices can earn as much as £300 – £500 per week for a Higher Apprenticeship.

Do I have to pay tax and National Insurance?

All employees aged over 16 must still pay tax and national insurance on their income.

What Apprenticeships do Runway Training Offer?

Runway Training deliver the following qualifications as part of the apprenticeship:

Business and Administration Levels 2 and 3
Customer Services Levels 2 and 3
Team Leading Level 2
Management Level 3
Accounting Level 2 and 3
Learning and Development Level 3
Professional Cookery Level 2 and 3
Hospitality Services Level 2
Hospitality Supervision and Leadership Level 3
Food and Beverage Services Level 2
Health and Social Care Level 2 and 3
Housekeeping Level 2
Cleaning Level 2

What are the entry requirements?

Anyone over the age of 16, living in England is eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. The exact entry requirements depend on the job. English and maths GCSEs are not usually required but can be learnt ‘on the job’ as part of the training.

What different levels of Apprenticeships are there?

There are three levels of apprenticeship – Intermediate (level 2), Advanced (level 3) and Higher (level 4 or above). The main components are a nationally recognised vocational qualification, a BTEC or similar technical certificate, other professional qualifications as specified by the particular job and (for the intermediate and advanced levels) Functional Skills in maths and English.

How to apply?

Check www.runwaytraining.co.uk to view current vacancies and submit applications via email to enquiries@runwaytraining.co.uk and a team member will email or call back.

Call 01732 402402 to register interest in roles.