Let me start by introducing myself, my name is Ben. I have a car to run, a mortgage to pay and I am currently planning a wedding for this time next year. Not what you might expect from someone on an apprenticeship right? Or more specifically someone on an apprenticeship wage… but there you have it, I am currently completing a digital marketing apprenticeship at Professional Apprenticeships and touch-wood won’t be hearing from any bailiffs any time soon. There are a lot of myths around apprenticeships; low pay, cheap labour etc. But you need to take all of these with a pinch of salt…
So, let’s myth bust. The facts – currently in the UK the apprenticeship minimum wage is £3.90 per hour for your first year, regardless of whether you’re older / younger than 19 years. If you’re above 19 years old and have completed your first year, then the minimum wage increases depending on your age. This obviously doesn’t sound like a lot, and that is because it isn’t. HOWEVER, that’s the negative, here is the positive:
Firstly it is important to consider what you are signing up for, in my case a digital marketing apprenticeship is valued at £11,000. You won’t need to pay a penny towards this cost. Comparably university could cost you £9,000 worth of debt for just your first year.
Secondly, and here is the real myth busting, the reality is most companies will not pay you the apprenticeship minimum wage, for example here at professional apprenticeships almost all the employers we recruit for will pay a minimum of £12,000 per year, (that’s roughly £6.50 an hour). The vast majority of our apprentices earn between 14-16k per year.
You see most companies are looking to improve their business when they take on an apprentice, usually they are looking to fill a skills gap with something like a digital marketing apprentice, or even add support to an area with something like Business administration. These companies are looking for people that are actively looking to progress and add value to the business, after all at the end of the day it’s all about the company thriving and growing. With all that in mind “most” companies will understand they will need to pay more than £3.90 an hour for a hungry, go getting employee as they see this as an investment.
Thankfully the stigma surrounding apprenticeships in this country is slowly fading, with even university graduates seeking apprenticeships due to a desire for workplace experience, and more and more companies using apprenticeships correctly as a way to train up and invest in staff long term, and not just to get a constant cycle of cheap labour. The important thing for you when considering an apprenticeship is to be clear on what you need out of it, how much do you need to be earning to live securely. Be sure to apply for the jobs that meet your criteria and that way when you find a match, you will be happy in your apprenticeship.
Professional apprenticeships offer free advice for any prospective apprentices in Bristol, Bath, Weston-Super-Mare and the North Somerset area. if you would like more information please visit our site here, or give us a call on 0117 422 4000.
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Article written by Ben Cridland | Professional Apprenticeships