How much is this going to cost us?

If your son or daughter is age between 16 to 18 years, the training for their apprenticeship is completely funded by the government.

If your child is 19 or over, government funding is limited, however if they still wish to carry out an Apprenticeship at this age no costs will be incurred by your child.

What are the benefits of doing an Apprenticeship?

• Earning a salary
• Training in the skills employers want
• Excellent progression opportunities, whether looking to study further or climb the ranks within the workplace
• Increased future earning potential – Apprentices enjoy marked salary increases when they complete their training
• Learning at a pace suited to the individual with the support of a mentor
• Paid holiday

You say they will earn while they learn, but how much will they earn?

The minimum wage for apprentices, as of 1st October 2016, is £3.40 per hour. The final wage of an Apprentice can vary, as many employers can pay more than this if they choose to do so. This is dependent on the industry, region and level of Apprenticeship they are doing.

It’s worth noting that in the longer term Apprentices will earn over £18,000 as a starting salary in their first job, whereas a university graduate will earn closer to £14,000 in their first job. As many university graduates are taking non-graduate roles due to lack of experience, Apprentices are starting in a higher wage bracket due to their immeasurable work experience.

What if my child has a problem at work, who can they speak to?

Each apprentice will be visited by an assessor regularly, to fully assess their progress in the workplace. So through the entirely of their programme, London Skills for Growth will be at hand to offer help, support and guidance to ensure they are never left to their own devices.

At London Skills for Growth we stress the importance of safeguarding, and all of our team adhere to our safeguarding policies. If your son or daughter do experience any problems in work, they can speak to us at any time and we will make sure the problem is solved as soon as possible. The needs of our learners are of utmost priority, so support will be available throughout the entirety of their Apprenticeship.

Once the Apprenticeship is over, will there be a job waiting for them once they finish?

If they have performed well throughout the Apprenticeship, the vast majority of employers will indeed keep an Apprentice on as a full time employee. Around 90% of Apprentices stay with their current employer once their course has finished, however this is not guaranteed. If an Apprentice does not perform to the best of their ability then, like with any other employee, an Apprentice would be let go upon completing their course.

My child is 16 years old so cannot drive yet. How will they afford transport?

For apprentices living in London, if you are aged 18 or over, live in a London borough and are enrolled on a London Skills for Growth Apprenticeship you are entitled to an Apprentice Oyster card, which can save you 30% off tube fares. tfl.gov.uk

Also, as an apprentice your son/daughter is entitled to a 16-25 young person’s railcard (£30 for one year, or £70 for three).

This railcard can save you up to a 1/3 off all rail fares, which means big savings when it comes to commuting!

Students tend to get a lot of discounts in places, do apprentices get similar offers?

Yes of course! All Apprentices are eligible to get an Apprentice NUS extra card, which costs £11 for a year. The NUS extra card offers discounts in dozens of shops, restaurants and entertainment locations (Thorpe Park, Cinemas, etc)

Your child can apply here: www.apprenticeextra.co.uk

What sort of Holiday Allowance will an Apprentice get?

As an Apprenticeship is a full time job, they will get the same holiday allowance as any other employee, which is roughly 20 to 25 days holiday, with additional bank holidays.