What is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a paid job with training. Through an apprenticeship, learners gain the technical knowledge, practical experience, and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career.
The Growth and Skills Levy (formerly known as Apprenticeship Levy) is a tax paid by employers to fund apprenticeship standards. All UK businesses with an annual wage bill of more than £3m pay 0.5% of their gross payroll to HMRC. This money is ring fenced
for employers to invest in apprenticeship training.
As an employer, apprenticeships help to develop the skills and talent for the future workforce, enhancing productivity and long-term workforce development. For existing employees it supports their skills and knowledge development.
Apprenticeships are available to both existing employees and new recruits. Goverment funding rules mean apprenticeships are available at a higher level in the same subject areas or a lower level if in a different subject area to what an employee has already
achieved.
For example, an employee could have a degree in Maths and then study the Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship as these are different skills.
- To complete an apprenticeship, you must be working in a job role which is at the level of the qualification you wish to achieve.
- Apprenticeships last between twelve months and six years, although most level 2 and 3 apprenticeships last between twelve months and two years.
- A minimum of 6 hours per week of your employed working hours will be spent doing off-the-job training. This might be day release at a training provider, online learning, studing for an assigment or training in your workplace.
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The apprenticeship training fees are paid from the Growth and Skills Levy so there is no cost to the school for the training, however, the school must cover the cost of the apprentice's salary. The Council Apprenticeship Team will arrange
payment from the DAS to the training provider.
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Salary: School can decide what the salary will be as long as its not below the national apprenticeship wage, please refer to the gov page for the most current rates: Apprentice National
Minimum Wage Rates.
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To meet the apprenticeship funding requirements, you must be entitled to work in the UK and have been a resident for 3 years.
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Please ensure the employment contract spans the entire apprenticeship duration, including End Point Assessment and any extension(s).
Using Local Training Providers
Bradford Council’s procurement process for the apprenticeship levy is to utilise local providers for apprenticeship standards required.
All maintained schools must contact Bradford Council’s Apprenticeship Team (see contact details below) for any apprenticeship training that will be funded from the Councils levy account.
The apprenticeship team will then confirm the training provider to be used in line with the procurement process and will be a local provider wherever possible and some training providers are moving to a set cohort start date and this will be confirmed by
the apprenticeship team.
Please note: Any apprenticeship training arranged directly with a training provider will not be approved, so please contact Bradford Council Apprenticeship team beforehand! See contact details at the end of the page.
Update - January 2026
The apprenticeship funding rules for 2025/26 introduces significant changes; please ensure you have read and understood the changes.
Skills England new rules for apprenticeships standards started on the 1st of August 2025. These rules have changed how apprenticeships are planned, funded and assessed. If an apprentice has started prior to this date then the previous rules still apply.
Breakdown of what’s changed:
Functional Skills in Maths & English
For Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of the programme:
When an apprentice aged between 16 –-18 start their apprenticeship, the functional skills requirements remain unchanged, and they must complete English and maths qualifications at the level required by their apprenticeship standard, or at a lower level if
they have recognised learning challenges.
Level 2 Apprenticeships: Apprentices must achieve level 1 and attempt the Level 2 Functional Skills assessments in English and Maths if they haven’t already achieved GCSE grade 4 (C) or higher.
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They must attempt the assessment as part of the apprenticeship funding rules.
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They do not need to pass the level 2 assessments to complete their apprenticeship.
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Level 3 Apprenticeships and Above: Apprentices must pass Level 2 Functional Skills if they have not already achieved a GCSE grade 4 or higher.
For Apprentices Aged 19+ at the start of the programme:
Apprentices aged 19+ have the option to opt in or out of studying functional skills in English and / or Maths, with employer agreement.
- If the apprentice opts in, they must undertake the assessments for the level they are working towards (e.g., Entry Level, Level 1, or Level 2). They can still complete their apprenticeship by proceeding directly to their End Point Assessment (EPA) without
needing to pass Functional Skills assessments.
- If the apprentice chooses not to opt in, they will complete their apprenticeship by proceeding directly to their End Point Assessment (EPA) without upskilling in maths and/ or English or pass functional skills assessments.
Shorter apprenticeships with more flexibility
From August 2025, some apprenticeship standards can be shortened from 12 months to 8 months if the training requirements are still met.
Key points:
- Training providers must check and record any prior learning. If an apprentice already has experience, the course can be shortened and will cost less.
- Apprenticeships must include at least 187 hours of off-the-job (OTJ) training to qualify for funding.
- If the apprentice has no prior learning, the full OTJ hours listed for their course must be completed.
- Training can be planned more flexibly, if it still meets the 8-month minimum and OTJ hour rule.
This means that apprenticeship training can be tailored to each apprentice.
Part-time and full-time apprentices treated the same
Skills England has removed the separate rules for part-time apprentices. There is no long a requirement to extend a course due to an employee who works fewer hours. Instead the training will match the apprentice’s working schedule in a realistic way.
For more information about apprenticeships or to arrange apprenticeship training please email:
Meena Mistry –
meena.mistry@bradford.gov.uk
Sadaf Iqbal –
Sadaf.iqbal@bradford.gov.uk