What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a real job where you learn, gain experience and get paid. You're an employee with a contract of employment and holiday leave.
To become an accounting apprentice, you must:
- be 16 or over
- not already be in full-time education
- live in England
You can start an accounting apprenticeship whether you’re starting your career, want a change or you're upskilling in your current job. You can have a previous qualification like a degree and still start an apprenticeship.
If you don’t live in England, check out apprenticeship options in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
As an accounting apprentice you’ll:
- learn and train for a vital job needed by every business
- get paid and receive holiday leave
- get hands-on experience in a real job
- receive structured training 20% of your working hours - usually at a college, university or with a training provider
- complete assessments during and at the end of your apprenticeship
- be on a career path with lots of future potential
- have the opportunity to apply for exemptions from ICB professional qualifications and join in membership
At any one time there are between 12,000 and 20,000 apprenticeship vacancies available online. You can search by keywords and by location. Some employers also advertise vacancies on their own website, so if you know any employers locally that you feel you would like to work for then check out their sites. Other useful places to search would be your local job centre, recruitment agencies such as Reed or Indeed or by searching on https://careermap.co.uk
ICB supports training providers and employers to help deliver these apprenticeships:
· Level 2 Accounts/Finance Assistant
· Level 3 Assistant Accountant
· Level 3 Payroll Administrator
· Level 5 Payroll Assistant Manager
The role of the employer
Whether your employer is the NHS, or a small ICB bookkeeping practice, they will have an essential part to play in delivering your apprenticeship programme and supporting you throughout. As well as off-the-job training (provided by your training provider) you will receive on-the-job training from your manager and other work colleagues.
Wherever possible, in addition to your line manager, you should also have a workplace mentor. Your mentor should be a colleague who you can talk to in confidence about your apprenticeship, and who should support you to raise concerns or make suggestions to improve your experience. In very small organisations, it is sometimes not possible to do this. In these circumstances, you should raise any worries, ideas, or issues with your training provider.
The role of your training provider
Your training provider has a key role to play in providing off-the-job training, assessing your progress towards achieving your required knowledge, skills and behaviours, any EPA entry requirement qualifications and supporting you generally during your apprenticeship. They work closely with your employer to ensure that you receive:
*An induction programme on starting.
*A detailed training plan (including on-the-job training).
*Regular progress reviews.
*Opportunities to put into practice your off-the-job learning, so that you can achieve your qualifications/requirements of the apprenticeship.
*Mentoring and general support throughout your apprenticeship.
This will all be documented in a commitment statement that is part of the Apprenticeship Agreement. This is an individual learning plan that your provider, your employer and you will all sign up to.
Once you have completed at least one year and one day of your apprenticeship, you will be eligible to enter through the Gateway. In apprenticeships, Gateway means the door between the on-programme learning and being ready to demonstrate what you've learned at the End Point Assessment (EPA). Gateway will happen when your employer, along with yourself and the training provider, agree that you are ready to undertake the EPA to prove you are competent to carry out the role you have trained for.
Your employment status as an apprentice
An apprenticeship is a real job. You will sign an apprenticeship agreement. In most cases this will be directly with your employer, but in some instances, it could be with an Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA). The ATA then acts just like a legal employer and the contract of employment will be with them. You can check the ATA on the national register.
You must have a contract of employment which is long enough to complete the apprenticeship successfully. The apprenticeship should come with a job title and your employer must provide appropriate support.
What will you be paid?
What you earn will depend on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship you choose.
If you're aged 16 to 18 or in the first year of your apprenticeship, you’re entitled to the apprentice rate.
If you're 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you’re entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
This is the minimum you’ll earn - many employers pay a lot more and offer their apprentices a competitive salary.
Holiday entitlement
Your holiday entitlement will be clearly written into your contract of employment. As a minimum you should get at least 20 days paid holiday per year plus bank holidays. You can use the holiday checker on GOV.UK to check your minimum holiday entitlement.
Minimum & maximum working hours
The minimum duration of each apprenticeship is based on you working 30 hours a week or more, including any off-the-job training undertaken. You must work enough hours each week so that you undertake sufficient, regular training and on-the-job activity.
The time spent on off-the-job training must be at least 20% and should be included as part of your hours. Your employer must allow you time to complete your apprenticeship within your working hours. Under current regulations young people aged up to 18 can work for a maximum of 40 hours per week and not more than 8 hours per day. Those over 18 have maximum working hours of 48 hours per week, but they can sign an agreement with their employer, should they wish to opt out of the protection of the legislation.
Duration
An apprenticeship takes between one and six years to complete. The duration of an apprenticeship depends on age, prior skills, apprenticeship type/level, and sector.
You can also complete an apprenticeship working part-time.
The EPA cannot be undertaken until the apprentice has completed at least 1 year and 1 day of their apprenticeship. Each Apprenticeship Standard provides a guide as to how long the apprenticeship should take to complete.
*Many thanks to The National Apprenticeship Service for their help in putting together this guide.
