Apprenticeships for small businesses: your results week guide

Picture this. It's GCSE results week. All over the UK, brilliant sixteen year olds are opening envelopes and deciding what comes next. Some will head to uni one day. But many want to earn, learn, and start a proper job. That is where apprenticeships shine, and this might be the week you decide to hire.

So let's talk apprenticeships in plain English. What they are. What they cost. And how to set one up without building a paperwork mountain.

What apprenticeships actually are

Forget the dusty image. Apprenticeships are not work experience and they are not free labour.

They are real jobs with structured training built in.
You employ and pay the apprentice.
They work with your team and spend part of the week on off-the-job training, usually around six hours.
A training provider delivers the teaching and assessments.
You provide the role, a mentor, and chances to put learning into practice.

Mythbuster parade

"Apprenticeships are just for trades." Nope. There are apprenticeships in business admin, marketing, IT, accountancy, hospitality, care, engineering and more. If it is a skilled role, there is likely a standard.
"They are only for teenagers." Not so. Anyone aged sixteen and over can do an apprenticeship, including your current staff, up to degree level.
"It is cheap labour." Wrong lens. Think growth. Done well, apprenticeships create loyal, skilled people who stick with you.

> "Apprentices are employees and have the same rights as other employees."

> Source: ACAS, Apprentices guidance.

Why results week is the moment to act

Timing matters. Right now, school and college leavers are weighing up their next move. Plenty want a job with training but do not know apprenticeships exist or how to find them.

If you get ready to talk apprenticeships this week, you reach keen talent before your competitors finish their coffee. You do not need every detail sorted by Friday. You just need to know it is an option and start the ball rolling.

The money bit: what the government pays

Here is the bit that surprises people. If you are a small employer that does not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government covers most training costs through funding bands.

For younger apprentices, training and assessment can be fully funded up to the relevant band. Check the current rules before you commit. Guidance lives on GOV.UK: Apprenticeships funding.
There is extra financial support:

- A hiring payment of up to £2,000 for SMEs taking on an apprentice aged sixteen to twenty-four, due from 1 October 2026. Keep an eye on GOV.UK for final details.

- £1,000 support when you hire an apprentice aged sixteen to eighteen, paid in two instalments to help with kit or travel.

- No employer National Insurance on apprentices under twenty five who earn below the threshold.

You do pay wages. There is a specific apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage for under-nineteens and for the first year of an apprenticeship. After that, the age-related rate applies. Current rates: National Minimum Wage. Get this right at the start. Underpaying an apprentice is common and entirely avoidable.

Here is the headline for small employers: largely funded training, some cash support, a NI saving, and a fair wage for a real job. For many, that flips "we can't afford to hire" into "actually, we can".

Statistic: In 2022/23 there were 337,140 apprenticeship starts in England, with higher-level starts up 6% year on year. Source: Department for Education, Apprenticeships and traineeships data.

Getting the paperwork right on day one

Do the ordinary things properly and life gets easier.

Contracts and agreements

Give a written contract of employment on or before day one. No "we will sort it later".
Put in place an apprenticeship agreement. Your training provider will usually help with the template.

Right to work checks

Check every new starter's right to work. No shortcuts, even for the "local kid". Keep clear copies. Guidance: Right to work checks.

Induction and support

Plan a simple, warm induction. Name a go-to person. Set out "what good looks like". A calm first week pays you back in loyalty and performance.

Day-one rights since April 2026

Statutory sick pay from day one.
Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave as day-one rights.
Make sure your handbook and payroll reflect this.

As service builds, management basics matter. Honest check-ins, simple notes, and clear expectations. Good management and good protection are two sides of the same biscuit.

Apprenticeships: quick actions for results week

Let's round this out with a to-do list you can act on today.

1. Decide the role. What will your apprentice do and who will look after them day to day?

2. Find a training provider. Use "Find an apprenticeship training course" on GOV.UK: Find an apprenticeship training course or ask your local college.

3. Check the funding band and current apprentice wage. Know your numbers before you commit.

4. Prep documents. Contract ready, apprenticeship agreement lined up, and right to work check process set.

5. Plan the first week. A real welcome turns nerves into confidence.

Plain-English legal lowdown for SMEs

Apprenticeships are jobs, so normal employment law applies.
Off-the-job training is part of paid hours. Build it into schedules.
Performance and conduct should be managed fairly. Keep notes and follow your procedure.
Reasonable adjustments apply where needed. Speak to your provider early if support is required.

External reference: CIPD overview of apprenticeships for employers.

Where to start with KUHR

Taking on your first apprentice is a lovely thing to do. For your business and for a young person who is ready to shine. Get the foundations right and it stays a good decision.

Want a fast sense-check on contracts, onboarding and probation? Try our free HR Health Check. It takes five to seven minutes and gives you a Red, Amber, Green summary with a plain-English report.
Prefer hands-on help to set up the paperwork and induction? Have a look at Kate Underwood HR for practical support across hiring, onboarding, and compliance.

Kettle on. Standards up. Give a keen young person their start this results week, get the paperwork right on day one, and enjoy watching them grow.

Until next time, keep buzzing and take care of your people!

FAQs

What is an apprenticeship in simple terms? A paid job with structured training and a recognised qualification, delivered with a training provider.
How much do apprenticeships cost a small business? Training is often funded by the government for SMEs. You pay wages and normal employment costs. Check GOV.UK for current funding bands.
Do apprentices count as employees? Yes. They have employment contracts, holiday, and other statutory rights. Source: ACAS.
What is off-the-job training and who pays for it? Learning time during paid hours, typically around six hours a week. It is part of the apprenticeship and built into working time.
What wage should I pay an apprentice? Pay at least the apprentice rate for under-nineteens and first-year apprentices, then the age-related minimum. Always check current GOV.UK rates.
Can I put an existing employee on an apprenticeship? Yes. Apprenticeships can upskill current staff at various levels, up to degree level.

Sources and expert notes