The latest Apprenticeships are an exciting option for both apprentice and employer. Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. 

You can adapt their training according to your business needs, motivate them to learn new skills, and expand and upskill your workforce. 

A marine Apprenticeship lasts for between 1 and 2 years. You can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to people who want to further their careers or change career direction. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

As an employer, you are entitled to funding from the government to help pay for 95 – 100% of the training fees. If your company pays into the Apprenticeship Levy, you pay no more contributions. If your company is not a ‘levy payer’, your company pays 5% of the training fee over the Apprenticeship term. The only extra costs are travel and accommodation for the apprentice if required. 

You employ an apprentice, and we train them. We can assist you in the recruitment process if required. 

Whilst they are working as an apprentice for you, you train them in the job they will eventually be doing, and we train them in the underpinning knowledge and get them certificated. The employer, apprentice and training provider work together and have periodic reviews to ensure that the apprentice stays on track. 

Apprentices come out of the training with an Apprenticeship qualification and other certification relative to their role, such as manual handling, first aid, slinger and signaller, forklift operator. Please refer to the individual Apprenticeship web pages for more information.

You must pay your apprentice for time spent training or studying for their Apprenticeship. There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on their age and what year of their Apprenticeship they’ve completed.  The minimum wage for all apprentices is at least £4.30 per hour moving up to the national minimum wage after a year and if they are over 19 years old.  This is at your discretion and you may choose to pay more. 

• Aged 16 to 18: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*
  
• Aged 19 or over and in their first year: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*
  
• Aged 19 or over and have completed their first year: Apprentices will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age* 

*Please note that these wages are adjusted by the government each April – https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

Your Apprentices must spend at least 20% of their normal working hours training. You must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:

• Paid holidays
• Sick pay
• Any benefits you offer such as childcare voucher schemes
• Any support you offer such as coaching or mentoring

The contract of employment should make it clear what wage you’ll pay your apprentice and for what hours.

Employers shall also:

• Provide a safe work environment
• Provide an induction that includes explaining relevant policies and procedures
• Give opportunities for the student to develop their technical skills within your industry
• On vessel-based apprenticeships, allow the apprentice to practice navigation and helming. 
• Provide ‘On-the-job’ training and additional support to ensure your apprentice’s success
• Regularly review the apprentice’s progress
• Assist apprentices with completing Training Record Books
• Ensure that apprentices do not have to contribute financially to their training
• Ensure that there is adequate mentoring in the workplace
• Provide a mentor or training officer to whom the apprentice can turn for support
• Ensure the apprentice is paid at least the minimum wage