How Much do Apprentices Earn and What are the Benefits?

Apprenticeships offer young people the chance to earn while they learn. Many apprentices earn more over their working lifetime than an unqualified person, and benefits such as employer contributions to a personal pension and equity at the end of their training period can make a huge difference to earnings.

Apprenticeships are a great way for students to discover whether they enjoy a particular work environment before committing to a full-time career. They also provide employers with skilled workers who are eager to learn new skills.

However, in order to reap the benefits of becoming an apprentice, you’ll need to know where you can find apprenticeships in your area and how you can get started. Read on for more information about what being an apprentice entails, how much you could earn as an apprentice and other benefits that come with apprenticeships.

 

What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are vocational training programmes that last between one and three years. The Apprenticeship Levy, a tax introduced in April 2017, will boost the number of apprenticeships in the UK.

The levy will be charged to companies with a taxable profit of £3 million or more. It will cost them an initial rate of 0.5% and an additional 0.5% each year thereafter. The levy is expected to increase the number of apprenticeships by between 10,000 and 16,000 per year.

As we’ve previously discussed in our blog post “The Highest Paid Apprenticeships in the UK“, an apprenticeship is different from an internship. While both offer training, apprenticeships give you the chance to gain new skills and work in a real workplace environment. Apprentices also receive wages throughout the programme, rather than being paid a fixed amount for a set period of time.

 

How much do apprentices earn?

According to the government, apprentices earn around £500 a week on average. However, this figure is based on the number of hours and days worked by apprentices, which is why it will vary from person to person. Some apprentices may work fewer hours during the week, while others might work more hours.

Additionally, apprentices are eligible for holiday pay and other benefits such as a pension contribution and free public transport to and from work. Regular earnings will also depend on the type of apprenticeship you do. For example, those in a technical apprenticeship could end up earning more than those in an occupational apprenticeship.

 

The benefits of becoming an apprentice

• Employer contributions to a personal pension: As an apprentice, you are automatically enrolled in a pension scheme provided by your employer. After completing their training, apprentices earn contributions of 8% of their salary until they reach the age of 52.
• Higher pay over your lifetime: Apprentices earn more than an unqualified person every year, with a large proportion of their earnings accumulating over their lifetime. In many cases, this is higher than the average salary of a university graduate.
• Lower cost of living: As an apprentice, you have lower living costs than a full-time employee would. This means you can save more money and spend less on everyday goods and services, such as utilities and insurance.
• Tax-free wage: As an apprentice, your wage is tax-free. Whether that’s national minimum wage or more, you can use this money to save for a car, pay for a holiday or whatever you chose! You won’t get many opportunities in your life to work without paying tax, so make the most of that little windfall while you can.
• Favourable visa conditions: Another benefit of becoming an apprentice is the favourable visa conditions you will receive upon completion of your course. This is particularly beneficial if you’re an international student looking to break into a field in the UK.

 

 

Something to think about before applying

Apprenticeships are a commitment. They take a long time to complete, usually between one and three years. During this period, you will need to be available to work full time while also studying. It’s important to keep in mind that you won’t be able to spend as much of your free time with your friends and family or pursue other interests while you’re in an apprenticeship. Of course, you’ll get plenty of time to do that, but less than you would on a typical college course, for instance.

 

Why might you want to become an apprentice?

There’s a good chance that apprentices earn higher pay than an unqualified person due to the qualifications you finish the apprenticeship with. Once you include employer contributions to a personal pension, this can boost your long-term income considerably. However, apprenticeships are an all-or-nothing deal. If you decide to become an apprentice, you have to commit to completing the programme.

One thing that might sway you is that apprenticeships offer free training, which means you can gain new skills and improve your career prospects without paying for expensive tuition. In addition to this, many apprenticeships offer work experience as part of your course. This can be a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real work environment.

 

Apprenticeships available in the UK

There is a wide range of apprenticeships available throughout the UK. Here are some of the most popular:

• Creative and Digital Media: This apprenticeship trains individuals working in media production, design, animation and distribution.
• Construction: This apprenticeship programme trains individuals in the construction sector.
• Health and Social Care: This apprenticeship programme is aimed at people working in health and social care.
• Manufacturing: This apprenticeship programme trains individuals working in manufacturing and engineering.
• Nursing: The nursing apprenticeship is aimed at working people who want to become healthcare professionals.
• Transport: This apprenticeship programme trains individuals in the transport sector.
• Veterinary: This apprenticeship programme trains individuals working in the veterinary sector.

 

Getting a place on an apprenticeship course

Apprenticeships are available in a number of sectors, including creative and digital media, construction, health and social care, manufacturing, nursing, transport and veterinary. There’s something for everyone. You must meet certain criteria in order to apply, but once you’re accepted onto an apprenticeship programme, you’ll be ready to go!

If you’re interested in a creative apprenticeship, check out Big Creative Education’s creative apprenticeships today.