How to hire an apprentice in the trades industry

Two trades people, one stood next to an air ventilation system, one climing up some ladders behind

As an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure practical skills are passed from generation to generation, apprenticeships have been a long-standing tradition within the construction industry.

The necessity for apprenticeships has evolved over the years, with research revealing that 9 in 10 tradespeople agree that apprentices are crucial to the future of the trades industry, however only 18% are currently employing one. By clearly understanding the benefits of an apprentice and what the employment process includes, you can help your business to grow whilst addressing the skills shortage.

Continue reading to learn more about how to employ an apprentice as a tradesperson.

How can apprentices help your trades’ business?

Hiring an apprentice can bring a range of benefits to your trades businesses. These include:

Cost savings

Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to recruit for your business, helping you to build and grow your trades’ business with less monetary pressures. Although they need more training than qualified tradespeople, apprentices require a smaller salary, which employers may be able to access financial support for in the form of grants. You can check if you are eligible for this support here.

Productivity and quality improvements

According to a 2024 Department of Education report on apprenticeships, 77% of employers witnessed an increase in business productivity after hiring an apprentice, with a further 66% reporting that they had benefitted from new ideas with the help of apprentices. When it comes to trades’ professions, it’s clear that any potential boost in productivity that doesn’t lead to a drop in quality is a great benefit.

Diversify your team

Hiring apprentices is reported to help diversify your business and build a thriving workforce. From increasing the social diversity in your team with hires from different stages of life, to boosting business knowledge with individuals varying in experience levels, hiring apprentices can be an efficient way of expanding your business with new skills and personalities.

How much do apprentices get paid?

As a minimum, an employer is required to pay an apprentice the National Minimum Wage – this amount can vary depending on the age of the apprentice you hire. However, employers often pay their apprentices more than this, especially as they progress through the apprenticeship.

How to hire an apprentice

When it comes to hiring an apprentice, there are five steps to follow. These are:

1.Set up an Apprenticeship Service account

In order to hire an apprentice, you need to set up a government apprenticeship service account. This involves providing your employer PAYE, Accounts Office reference, and accepting the terms and conditions of the UK government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) employer agreement.

2. Select the relevant training course(s)

Once your account has been created, you will need to specify which training course(s) you would like to offer to prospective apprentices. This will not only involve selecting courses you are willing to offer, but also the level of training you are able to provide.

3. Find a training provider

While as an employer you will be able to provide practical work experience, you will need to find a training provider to carry out the classroom-based learning aspect of an apprentice scheme. The simplest way to do this is to search for local providers on the Apprenticeship Service’s online portal.

4. Secure funding

As discussed above, you may be able to apply for government funding to cover your apprentice’s training and assessment costs. Smaller employers will receive funds to cover 95% of an apprentice’s training and assessment costs, however, some employers may also be entitled to a £1,000 payment to support the apprentice in the workplace. This payment will be made if your apprentice is either aged 16 to 18, or aged 19 to 25 with an education, health or care plan.

5. Advertise

When your training provider and funding is in place, you can begin to advertise your apprentice role. This can be done on the ad section of your online apprenticeship service account, which will post the role on the ‘Find an apprenticeship’ site once approved. You can contact trade-based websites and magazines to advertise your role, in addition to sharing on any of your social media platforms.

6. Interview

Once you have received responses to your advert, it is time to conduct interviews. Remember, you are employing an apprentice, not a qualified tradesperson. This means it is important you do not expect candidates to be experts – instead use the interview to gauge the individual’s personality traits, enthusiasm levels and potential.

7. Offer the role

When you are ready to offer the role, you will need to create a formal apprenticeship agreement. This document should list the length of employment and detail the specific training which will be provided as part of the apprenticeship. To accompany this, a commitment statement should be signed by the apprentice, the employer and chosen training provider. Both apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement templates can be found on the ESFA website.

Is insurance required to hire an apprentice?

Yes - employers' liability insurance is legally required for all businesses that employ any individual, including apprentices. You may also wish to source additional tools insurance to cover your apprentice’s tools, helping to avoid the chance of any losses.

At Markel Direct, we offer specialist tradesman insurance from £7 a month*, which provides trades businesses with employers’ liability insurance, in addition to public liability, professional indemnity, and tools and equipment cover. These comprehensive policies will help you to have the correct coverage if you take on an apprentice.

*Price based on a window cleaner requiring £1 million of tradesman public liability insurance cover.

 

To discover how we celebrate trades apprentices, read about our Nation’s A* Trades Apprentice Award. For more help & guidance for trades, visit here, or learn more about our trades insurance solutions.

Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional. The views expressed by websites referenced to are limited to those of the websites, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Markel Direct

Business insurance from £5 a month