Apprenticeship Recruitment - The Employer's Guide to

The Employer’s Guide to

Apprenticeship
Recruitment

Finding the right apprentice
            Milton Keynes College is able to fully support you in sourcing and
            recruiting an employee that will benefit your business and enable
            you to grow your workforce for the future.
            With over 25 years’ experience we can provide high calibre
apprentices to businesses of all sizes and are in the best position to guide you
through the information you need for the recruitment process.

Step 1: Advertise your Apprenticeship Vacancy
                                           This complementary service offered at Milton
                                           Keynes College is available to all employers
                                           and supports the recruitment process from
                                           beginning to end, right through to the
                                           successful appointment of your apprentice.
                                           All apprenticeship vacancies are advertised
                                           via the National Apprenticeship Service
                                           website where thousands of young people
                                           look for apprenticeship posts. Prospective
                                           apprentices can browse vacancies by
                                           geographical location, occupation, job role
                                           and keywords.
                                           To advertise your apprenticeship vacancy
                                           on the National Apprenticeship Service
                                           website, we need to register you with the
                                           service and complete the vacancy template.
                                           This includes a person specification and
                                           job description. The College will support
                                           employers with completion of the vacancy
                                           template.

Person specification
The person specification outlines the essential and desirable qualifications, skills, knowledge and
experience you require candidates to hold. It is important to remember that when recruiting an
apprentice, individuals may not have a wealth of industry experience therefore the specification
should highlight the transferrable skills the apprentice can apply to the role.
Job Description
The job description includes a job title, the main responsibilities and purpose of the role,
information about the company and the job location. Most companies have their own job
description and these can be used for an apprenticeship job role. Further information
about producing job descriptions can be found on our website.

As well as advertising on the National Apprenticeship Service website,
vacancies can also be promoted through:
• Milton Keynes College website - dedicated apprenticeship area
• Milton Keynes College alumni website
• Your own company website

We maintain a screened and “employer-ready” bank of exceptional candidates looking to start an
apprenticeship. When vacancies become available, these are the first people the College look to
match with suitable vacancies.

Step 2: Find Candidates
Shortlisting Applicants
The College undertakes an initial review of applicants, meeting and assessing all
candidates prior to interview. This process ensures recommended applicants are suitable
for your vacancy and have the necessary aptitude, skills and are ready to commence an
apprenticeship framework.
We will also conduct initial assessments of applicants who may have applied directly as
an employee, as this enables us to ensure that all applicants shortlisted are suitable to
undertake an apprenticeship programme.
Interviewing Applicants
As with other employees, employers have the responsibility of interviewing candidates.
We prepare applicants by giving interview practice, alongside tips and techniques to enable
them to be fully prepared for their interview. This can however, be the applicant’s first experience
of an interview situation and so they might well find it a daunting situation and not be as
polished as an experienced interviewee.

Step 3: Employer Responsibilities
Apprenticeship Agreement
An Apprenticeship Agreement is a mandatory document that needs to be created by the
employer outlining the work carried by the employee within the apprenticeship framework. The
agreement must be issued and signed by the apprentice before their programme commences and
a copy given to the apprentice and to the College.
The Apprenticeship Agreement is a contract of service that should reflect that an apprenticeship
is primarily a job rather than training and is not a employment contract. It also means that the
apprentice does not have any additional rights over those of other employees. Employers can
create their own Apprenticeship Agreement, or alternatively an Apprenticeship Agreement
template is available on the Apprenticeships website: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Working Hours
Apprentices must work a minimum of 30 hours per week and this includes time spent attending
college or undertaking training in the workplace. All training time should be part of an
apprentice’s working week and included in their salaried hours. Apprentices aged under 18 are
restricted to working 40 hours per week with a maximum working day of 8 hours.

Contract of Employment
As an employer, you have the responsibility to make
sure you provide the apprentice with the opportunity
to train and learn as part of their job, as well as
paying and treating them fairly as an employee.
A Contract of Employment for an apprentice
does not need to be different from a typical
employment contract and an apprentice has
the same rights and restrictions as other
employees. However, an employer can
choose not to offer permanent employment
up to one month following the completion
of the apprenticeship.

The Employer’s Guide to Apprenticeship Recruitment

How much will hiring an apprentice cost?
            Training costs
            Employers working with apprentices aged 16-18 are not charged training costs as
            younger apprenticeships are fully funded by the Government. Employers working
            with apprentices aged 19 and over are required to contribute to training costs.
            Our apprenticeship team will be able to advise you on the exact cost your
            company is likely to incur.
            Apprenticeship salary
            Although the Government has set a National Minimum Wage for apprentices,
            employers are encouraged to pay a salary that is fair and reflective of the level
            of work that is undertaken.
            The overall salary payments vary depending on the apprenticeship programme,
            the level of qualification and between occupational sectors. We can advise you
            on current salary expectations within your sector
            Wage Incentives
            Some employers choose to build a wage incentive during the apprenticeship
            programme. Incentives are typically based on performance or progression
            towards qualifications.

 Apprenticeship grants
 The National Apprenticeship Service provides apprenticeship grants of up to £1,500 to
 eligible employers. The grant is payable after the apprentice has been employed for the first
 13 weeks of the programme.
 From 1st January 2015 apprenticeship grants will support employers with 50 or less employees
 and who have not employed an apprentice in the previous 12 months. Employers are able to
 claim one grant for a maximum of 5 apprentices through Milton Keynes College.
 Checking eligibility, completing paperwork and making a claim is supported by Milton Keynes
 College who submit the claim on behalf of the employer.
 Further information on Apprenticeship Grant, please speak to our Apprenticeship Team.

Contact details
If you need any further support or guidance with any
aspect of the recruitment process please do not hesitate
to contact our apprenticeship helpline on 01908 637058
or email apprenticeships@mkcollege.ac.uk.