An apprenticeship provides an opportunity for staff to learn whilst on the job and blend learning alongside the practical working experience. Apprenticeships are structured to promote learning and development whilst being contracted by an employer. Allowing an apprentice to learn in a specific sector or industry, developing their knowledge, skills, and behaviours to prepare them for a successful career.

You can find out more on the Government’s website here.

An apprenticeship includes all the necessary skills to be a successful leader in your organisation. It includes access to industry-leading expertise, innovative learning practices, and a built-in development of personal skills. In addition, an apprenticeship also contains;

• Hands-on-experience in a sector/role of interest
• At least 20% off-the-job training 
• Formal assessment (EPA) which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Team Leader / Supervisor – Level 3

• 13 months + assessment period of 3 months.

The Senior Leader – Level 7

• 20 months + assessment period of 5 months.

There is no minimum requirement on experience, we will support their development to being a competent leader. All we ask is that participants are in a leadership role and have the opportunity to use their knowledge, skills, and behaviours within your organisation.

To qualify for an apprenticeship you must:
Be contracted (PAYE) for a minimum of 30 hours a week.

Not hold a qualification in any area related to the apprenticeship's knowledge, skills and behaviours.

Hold a grade C/ level 4 or above at GCSE in English and maths, or be willing to undertake functional skills L2 qualifications in these areas.

To join a cohort you must be able to commit to the following:

Be able to commit to the whole apprenticeship duration (L3 14 months, L5 14 months, L7 24 months).

Be committed to upskilling yourself through a programme of off the job training (off the job learning is set at a minimum of 6 hours per week and can take the form of reading, listening, watching, shadowing, embedding new skills, online/ in-person training).

To attend monthly online learning sessions (10am-4pm).

Completing an initial questionnaire around the knowledge, skills and behaviours related to the apprenticeship with the programme lead (1hr online).

Completing an online course induction with your programme lead (2hrs online).

Commit to regular tripartite reviews with your programme lead and manager (1hr every 3 months).

The Apprenticeship Levy is an amount paid by employers with an annual wage bill of 3m or over which is used to fund apprenticeship training and assessment.

The amount paid is at a rate of 0.5% of the employer's annual pay bill and is collected monthly by HMRC. Unused levy funds expire after 24 months.

Apprenticeship funding can be accessed by both levy and non levy paying organisations (SMEs). To access funding all organisations (levy paying or SME) need to set up a government account known as a DAS (Digital Apprenticeship Service) account. Hyper Island can send you an invitation to set up this account (see below for more information). After registering for this account you will be able to access and manage your apprentice's funding.

Levy paying organisations will use their levy pot to fund the training.

SMEs can do one of the following:
1. pay 5% towards the overall cost of an apprenticeship programme directly, with the remaining 95% funded by the government
2. Obtain support from Hyper Island to facilitate your apprentice(s) in securing a levy transfer from a larger organisation. Levy paying organisations can transfer up 25% of their unspent pot and this will cover 100% of the apprenticeship cost.

For a full run through of the funding process please get in touch with apprenticeships@hyperisland.com where a member of our team will be able to offer more detailed guidance