In this time and age, the career options and pathways you can take are wider than ever before. University has always been the gateway to a fantastic career. However, apprenticeships are now starting to take the spotlight. You may be surprised to hear that taking an apprenticeship may be more desirable to some careers compared to getting a degree at university! They also have some benefits for you, including the pay.
Simply put, you do get paid for working in an apprenticeship. There are a wide range of apprenticeships, with different amounts of pay for each role. The amount depends on the apprenticeship you are partaking in. Some apprenticeships may pay you above the minimum wage. However, every apprenticeship employee gets paid!
Now you know you get paid for an apprenticeship, read on to find out more about pay and why apprenticeships could be a fantastic decision for you to make.
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How much money do you get paid in an apprenticeship?
How much money you earn depends on the type of apprenticeship you are involved in. For your first year, you are entitled to the minimum wage. This is £4.81 an hour, which has actually increased from £4.30. This doesn’t sound a lot I know. However, you must remember that you are also studying and being trained for the job. Also, as your age and time in the apprenticeship increases, so does your pay.
For example, under eighteens should get at least the minimum wage. If you are nineteen and have only worked in the apprenticeship for under a year, you are also entitled to £4.81. However, after this, the minimum wage depends on your age.
Eighteen-year-olds who have worked in the apprenticeship for at least a year should earn £6.83 an hour minimum. This price stays the same up to twenty years old. This increases even more at twenty one to twenty two years old, where the minimum wage for an apprenticeship becomes £9.18. You will then receive the national living wage when you are above twenty five. You can find further information on the government website if you click here.
The wages I have stated are hourly rates and are the minimum amounts you should receive if you are working in an apprenticeship. However, there is a possibility that some apprenticeships will pay you more. If they are happy with your work and think that you will be a valuable asset to their company, they may increase your pay to make sure that you stay with them. However, if you are still struggling with money, check out this article on Think Student to discover if you can get a loan.
Who pays for an apprenticeship?
Who pays for the apprentice and their training depends on the company. For example, if the employer has a pay bill of under £3 million each year, at least 90% of the employer’s apprenticeship training and assessment costs will be paid by the government. You can find even more information about this on the government’s website if you click here. However, the employer is responsible for paying the apprentice’s wage.
The employer is also able to receive money from the government, if they are eligible, for taking on a sixteen- to eighteen-year-old. The apprentice’s earnings should be made up of their wage, bonuses, commissions and pension contributions.
Do you get taxed when earning an income from an apprenticeship?
Many people believe that apprentices do not have to pay tax because of how young the employees usually are. However, apprentices can be any age and they are not able to escape taxes.
Unfortunately, receiving a steady income means that the money from your apprenticeship will be taxed. This will happen if you earn over £12,570 per year. Further to this, if you earn £184 per week or more, you will also have to pay National Insurance Contributions.
However, these prices are automatically deducted from your pay before you receive it. This process is called the Pay as you Earn system. So no tax dodging today! If you want to find out more information on this, visit the official UCAS website by clicking this link.
What conditions are you entitled to as a paid apprentice?
Working in an apprenticeship means that you will be working, studying and getting paid for all of this. You need to spend at least 20% of your working hours studying. For example, classroom based learning with a training provider, university or college. These pathways will lead to a nationally recognised qualification. You will also gain real life work experience which should be hands on and challenging.
However, you need to be aware of the rights you have whilst being an apprenticeship. You will have a right for sick pay and paid employment whilst taking holiday leave. You need to make sure that you are being paid the right wage and these sums are highlighted earlier in the article. You should also receive any benefits the employer offers such as childcare voucher schemes and any support from mentoring.
You should also be aware that if you are also studying for English or maths qualifications that the apprenticeship requires you to have, you are also entitled to paid study time. This can take place during your normal working hours. However, you must remember that your training in an apprenticeship must last at least twelve months. Otherwise, you will not receive the right qualifications. Click here to read the government’s official website on apprenticeships. It gives an immense amount of valuable information.
Do you get paid for degree apprenticeships?
Degree apprenticeships are slightly different to normal apprenticeships. This is because you get hands on training and experience with your employer, whilst working towards a degree. This is a great alternative to university if you are worried about student debt. It also means that you will be well equipped when you begin working fully, as you will have your degree and a large amount of knowledge about your chosen career.
The range of subjects they offer is slightly smaller than apprenticeships without earning a degree. This makes them even more competitive. Similarly to a normal apprenticeship, you will get paid. You also won’t have to pay for your tuition fees and training, which is a bonus!
However, your living arrangements will have to be paid out of your own pocket, as the apprenticeship does not cover this. You will not be eligible for student loans either. This may seem like a negative. However, you need to focus on the fact that you will be getting paid to study and gather experience. This will give you a great head start in your chosen career.
How do you choose a paid apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships may seem like an easy way to get the career you want to achieve. After all, you get paid whilst getting the training you need to be the best you can be. However, you need to remember that apprenticeships will be challenging, it doesn’t matter which one you choose and apply for. Therefore, you need to make sure that you will enjoy the apprenticeship that you choose. This means it is imperative that you do plenty of research to find the apprenticeship that best suits you.
The key factors to consider when choosing your apprenticeship includes knowing the qualifications you need, the type of training you will be receiving and if the apprenticeship fits your goals.
The most useful action to take would be to research the employer you want to be an apprentice for. Research their website for key information and facts about the company. Not only will you know if you want the apprenticeship or not but you will also be ready for the interview. Employers will be impressed by your knowledge of their own company.
To find more tips on how to choose the best apprenticeship for you, check out the UCAS website by clicking this link.
How do you apply for an apprenticeship?
The hardest part of becoming an apprentice can sometimes be actually finding an apprenticeship that suits you. Essentially, it involves a lot of research on your part and making sure that you get the correct grades. The easy part is actually applying!
For different types of apprenticeships, you need different qualifications. For example, an advanced apprenticeship only requires you to have taken GCSE’s. However, higher apprenticeships require you to have taken A-Levels and maybe even have some related work experience.
After finding the perfect apprenticeship, you can create an account on the government website, complete an application and send it off. That’s it! The application involves an application form, which you have to fill out, a CV and a cover letter. Therefore, the application is quite similar to a university application. You should apply to a number of apprenticeships because this will increase your chances of becoming an apprentice.
Click on this link to read an article on Think Student, which offers a comprehensive guide for applying for an apprenticeship.
What are the best paid apprenticeships in the UK?
Most people have only started to discover the many benefits of apprenticeships and how some types may even produce better careers than university does. Here is a list of the top five highest paid apprenticeship jobs in the UK:
- Banking and finance
- Accountancy
- Energy and utilities
- IT and consultancy
- Insurance
These apprenticeships range from £21,799 a year in banking and finance to £18,431 in insurance. Now, that is an impressive sum of money when only sixteen to eighteen years of age! If you want to discover other high paid apprenticeship jobs, check out this website from Ratemy Apprenticeship if you click here.
Not only are you earning money by becoming an apprentice, but you are also learning new skills and being trained for a job role you want to pursue. In comparison, check out how much it will cost to go to university, by reading this article on Think Student.
Hopefully this article has covered most of the questions you have about apprenticeships. The most important one being: do you get paid? The answer is yes! I hope this has sparked your interest in apprenticeships, as they are a valuable pathway to your dream career. Good luck!