Apprenticeships: an introduction

Apprenticeships are a great way for employers to nurture their own talent. They also provide an excellent route for young people to enter the labour market, allowing individuals to train on the job and gain a qualification at the same time. They have become a key government policy in the UK. Since April 2017, large employers in the UK have been required to pay an apprenticeship levy and other employers are required to contribute some of the costs. 

This factsheet reviews the key features of apprenticeships and their benefits to employers. It also looks at the elements of implementing and running a successful apprenticeship scheme and outlines the funding changes.