An apprenticeship is a government-funded vocational training programme for young people in which formal off-site training is combined with on-the-job experience and assessment. The result is a well-qualified and vocationally competent individual. Young people are increasingly choosing the apprenticeship route as a career-focused alternative to further education.

Swift has a selection process to ensure that only the right calibre of person is recruited into your business. Swift will advertise your vacancy, select suitable candidates and assess their competence and attitude.

Your Swift Business Development Consultant will then present you with appropriate CVs and schedule interviews with your preferred individuals at a time that is convenient for you.

We will then provide you with full support throughout the onboarding and enrollment process.

Candidates must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs grade A-C including English and Maths, they must pass a skills assessment and a rigorous interview to ensure they are engaged, motivated and willing to work.

Yes they can! Many employers now use apprenticeships as a way of improving and developing the skill of their employees. For more information on whether an apprenticeship might assist you in developing your existing employees, get in touch!

As the employer, you will be responsible for paying the apprentice the minimum wage for at least 30 hours each week. This includes the time your apprentice spends training.

For more information on the National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage please visit here

Swift provide the apprentices with:

• Professional industry-standard training and development through a range of open and flexible learning methods such as eLearning and virtual classrooms
• Support in the workplace to create a portfolio of evidence that highlights the skills and competencies they have developed in the workplace
• Preparation support for endpoint assessment
• Regular progress reviews
• Monthly one to one support from our tutors

You must give your apprentice enough time to train. All apprentices must devote at least 20% of their time to off-the-job training, which can include online learning, one-on-one sessions, remote classroom sessions, shadowing, research, assignments, portfolio development, and any other training or learning that is not part of their day-to-day employment.

You will be asked to write a reference for their apprentice, which is a thorough document that documents their development and is part of their final evaluation.

Swift's apprenticeship recruiting service is completely free. However, with the implementation of the government's new Apprenticeship Levy, there may be a fee connected with your apprentice's training, in short:

• There is no fee for training if you employ less than 50 people and your apprentice is between the ages of 16 and 18.
• If you employ more than 50 people and/or your apprentice is 19 or older, you will be required to contribute 5% of training costs.

Employing a 16-18-year-old apprentice earns you a £1000 bonus.

To hire an apprentice, receive funds, and apply for incentives, all companies must register their own digital account on the Government Apprenticeship Service site. Swift DM can invite you to this service, or you can create an account here