Taking on an apprentice can be a great way to help your business grow and can help you to give back to the industry by passing on skills and training to the next generation.
But perhaps most importantly, it can help you to nurture employees who you can be sure have received decent, high-quality training. After all, they’ll be learning from the best.
Our downloadable guide walks you through everything you need to know about hiring your first apprentice – from costs and funding to responsibilities, training requirements and ongoing support.
Is your business ready for an apprentice?
Before you take on an apprentice, you’ll need to make sure your business can support them – to make the most of their time and skills, and to ensure you have all the legal boxes ticked. Funding is a big part of that. You’ll be able to access funding for apprenticeship places through various Government-led schemes which will mean you’re not left out of pocket.
The FMB guide to hiring your first apprentice will give you a checklist of legal requirements for your business, and a wealth of helpful resources so you can put your plan into action. This includes what you need to do about:
- A written apprenticeship agreement
- Age and compulsory education requirements
- National minimum wage for apprentices
- Insurance policies for employers
How to find your apprentice
When you download the guide, you can find out how to find your first apprentice with tips on which organisations to contact and useful links.
Funding for building apprenticeships
Before you think about hiring an apprentice, you’ll need to make sure your finances add up. The good news is that there’s support out there through funding schemes, so it shouldn’t leave you out of pocket. Our free guide can help you to get the ball rolling with information about what’s available, how much you can apply for and where to apply.
Funding information is correct at the time of publication (February 2025). For the latest on current funding, please contact the CITB's New Entrant Support Team.
