Progress your career

Did you know an Apprenticeship isn’t just for school leavers, but also for employees in full-time work? It’s true, you can become an apprentice while still working in your current role to gain professional qualifications and the skills you need for career progression.

Please be aware that this information is for England only.

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Why should I do an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are no longer just a career step for school leavers. The new Apprenticeship standards mean that anyone, regardless of age or past qualifications, can become an apprentice.

With an Apprenticeship, you can learn and progress your career at the same time. If you job role is evolving and you need to retrain then an Apprenticeship would allow you to work whilst you study.

You might choose an Apprenticeship to benefit from the skill and behaviour development, and structured learning environment, that Apprenticeships offer. You get to study in a work environment, and experience hands-on job experience that links directly to your qualification.

Building on your current career

An Apprenticeship isn’t just about the qualification - it’s about building the essential skills you need to advance your career. It shows that you have commitment and dedication to your profession and that you want to move ahead, not just stay in the position that you are in at the moment.

An Apprenticeship takes between one to around three years to complete, but this depends on the level of Apprenticeship you want to take. The range of levels can equate to the equivalent of GCSEs, A Levels and Foundation and Masters Degrees.

If you choose Kaplan as your Apprenticeship learning provider, we offer multiple learning methods to best suit your lifestyle. These include classroom, Live Online and OnDemand learning. Some apprentices prefer face-to-face classroom learning, while others may favour learning at home with OnDemand. Due to the current COVID restrictions we have had to limit our classroom delivery so you’ll need to bear this in mind when choosing your study method.

How much can I earn?

Apprentices are entitled to get paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Currently the National Minimum Wage for apprentices is £4.15 an hour. Many employers pay more than this, but you should not get any less.

At least £4.15 per hour

If you are already in work and are looking to become an apprentice, it is likely you would study whilst on your current salary but you should seek advice from your employer before applying.

Future potential earnings

Accountancy and tax

Banking and finance

Data and IT

Your earning potential will vary depending on the Apprenticeship you do. Here’s a quick overview to give you an indication, based on different sectors.

But once you’ve completed your Apprenticeship you will be able to apply for roles that demand a higher salary, and from there the world’s your oyster.

How does my employer pay for an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is a cost-effective way for you to achieve your career goals and for your employer to upskill their members of staff. Your employer can use their Levy to fund your Apprenticeship, or if they aren’t a Levy payer, then the government will fund 95% of the training costs so they will only have to pay 5% of your training.

For example, the level 7 Accountancy and Tax Apprenticeship cap is set at £21,000. As a Non-Levy payer, your employer would only have to pay 5% of your training costs. Therefore, it would cost £1,050 to take you on as an apprentice (exam fees not included).

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Does your employer offer Apprenticeship schemes with us?

Your employer might already have an Apprenticeship scheme in place. Speak to your Manager to confirm whether your employer is currently offering Apprenticeship schemes with us.

Learn more about our Apprenticeship standards ›

Information for employers:

Apprenticeships for employers ›