Hire an apprentice
If you’re looking to future-proof your workforce, apprentices can be a great way to help your business grow.
What do we do?
We’ve been delivering high quality apprenticeship training for more than 30 years and each year we support around 650 apprentices with expert tutoring in a wide variety of different occupations, from Business, Accounting and Customer Service, to Engineering, Construction, Digital Marketing and IT – the opportunities are endless!
What’s more, by partnering with MK College you’ll have access to work-ready, talented students as they complete their studies with us, ready to bring new ideas and industry-leading knowledge to your organisation.
Read on to find out more about what’s involved in hiring an apprentice.
Common questions
What exactly are apprenticeships?
An apprenticeship is a genuine job that provides a way for individuals to earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practice new skills in a real work environment.
You can find out more about the apprenticeship areas we offer here
What are the benefits of apprentices?
Apprenticeships benefit both employers and individuals, and by boosting the skills of the workforce they help to improve economic prosperity. They will enable your business to support the development of a person entering employment for the first time, or for upskilling existing staff already employed within the company.
Apprenticeships also contribute towards:
- Improved productivity
- Filling skills gaps – including specialist skills, specific to your industry
- Improved competitiveness
- Increased employee satisfaction
- Reduced staff turnover
- Reduced recruitment costs
- Reduced training costs
Why work with MK College?
As Milton Keynes’ largest further education and training provider, MK College is well placed to meet the needs of your business. We have over 30 years of experience in delivering high-quality apprenticeship programmes and offer a wide range of apprenticeships at all levels and in many different job roles and sectors.
We know that you’re busy, so we aim to make things simple by offering your business:
- A dedicated Employer Engagement Manager
- An end-to-end recruitment service which includes advertising the vacancy on our website and shortlisting applicants for you to interview
- Advice on the government incentive payments and funding that may be available to you as an employer
- Guidance on everything you need to know about hiring an apprentice
Additional qualifications
At MK College, we offer additional courses to complement your apprentices’ existing training, covering topics such as marketing, health and safety, communication, and digital skills. These courses provide valuable new skills and knowledge to support your apprentices’ personal and professional growth.
Contact us at apprenticeshiptrainers@mkcollege.ac.uk to discuss how we can create a bespoke training plan to meet your needs.
What financial support is avaliable?
You can get help from the government to pay for apprenticeship training. The amount you get depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not.
Apprenticeship Levy
If your company’s wage bill is £3million or more, you will already be paying an Apprenticeship Levy of 0.5%.
The levy is paid into a digital account held by government to help fund the training of apprentices in your business. You can draw down this levy over time to pay for the training of apprentices that you take on.
Levy contributions are made monthly, and the government also apply a 10% top up to employer’s accounts, ensuring you can take out more than you put in.
If you are a business paying the Apprenticeship Levy, contact our team of apprenticeship experts to find out what it means for your business and how we can help you take advantage of the benefits this brings.
Non-levy employers
100% of the training and assessment costs for your apprentice aged 16-21 will be paid by the Government. This applies to existing staff and/or new recruits.
95% of the training and assessment costs for your apprentice aged 22+ will be paid by the Government. You must pay the remaining 5% of the training and assessment costs. This applies to existing staff and/or new recruits.
You will receive a payment of £1,000 for recruiting an apprentice aged 16-18 (or 19-24 for those with an Education and Health Care (EHC) plan and/or those who have been in the care of their Local Authority). Payments are made in 2 equal instalments.
Contact us to discuss your options and find out more about what help is available.
Get in touch
Why work for MK College?
Trusted high-quality training provider
Experienced and responsive employer team
A bespoke service tailored to your business
Access the brightest new talent
Support for the local community