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Employ a Modern Apprentice
Build a skilled, confident workforce with funded training and recognised qualifications.
The Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme helps businesses grow their workforce, strengthen skills, and invest in the future of their organisation.
Apprentices work, earn and learn, benefiting from practical work-based learning alongside structured training.. They’ll gain industry-recognised qualifications, and build the skills, knowledge and experience to contribute more confidently and effectively in the workplace.
MAs are suitable for new or existing staff, with funding available towards the cost of training.
How to apply
Why employ a Modern Apprentice?
There are many reasons why hiring a Modern Apprentice might be right for your business.
- Develop skills tailored to your business
- Train new and existing employees
- Receive funding towards training costs
- Bring in new ideas and perspectives
- Address skills gaps
- Improve business performance
Types of Modern Apprenticeship
Care
- Healthcare Support
- Social Services (Children & Young People)
- Social Services (Healthcare)
Construction
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Brickwork
- Painting and Decorating
- Civil Engineering
Engineering
- Electrical/ Electronic
- Fabrication and Welding
- Maintenance
- Manufacturing
- Mechanical/ Renewables
Key information
Your Modern Apprentice is just like every other employee, so you must pay their salary and make sure they have everything they need to do their job.
Every college and training provider in Scotland is allocated a specific number of MA places per industry. These allocations are usually made in spring each year.
Places are awarded by NESCol on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who meet eligibility criteria and entry requirements for their chosen MA.
If there are no funded places available, it is still possible to place an employee on an MA programme.
Please get in touch with the MA Team to talk through different options.
A Modern Apprentice can be a new team member or an existing employee.
They must:
- Be employed full-time in a suitable job
- Have your full support as their employer
- Meet the age criteria for their chosen apprenticeship.
Most MAs are available for employees aged 16-24 living in Scotland. However, apprentices over 25 are also eligible for support in most industries.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will contribute towards the cost of training apprentices, as well as assessments. They pay NESCol directly.
As an employer, you will pay:
- The apprentice’s salary
- Any additional contributions towards training (if required).
A Modern Apprentice must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for an apprentice.
The business must employ the individual for the duration of the apprenticeship.
You must also be willing and able to provide the workplace experience and assessment opportunities required to complete the programme.
Employers can keep up to date with the apprentice’s progress through our online portal, where attendance, timetables and results can be easily accessed.
An MA typically lasts two to four years depending on the programme.
Some MAs require College attendance.
The apprentice will study at College on a day-release basis (for example, one day a week) or through block release, where they attend College full-time for a set period such as a few days or weeks.
As the apprenticeship progresses, they’ll spend less time at College and more time learning in the workplace, with their training becoming fully work-based.
How to apply
Application form
Once you and your employee have agreed on an apprenticeship route, you should fill out the online application form together.
Modern Apprenticeship application form
Before you start the application, please make sure you have the following information and documents ready:
- The employee’s National Insurance number
- The employee’s qualifications
- The employee’s Core Skills Profile certificate from Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA)
- The employer’s name, address and telephone number
- The manager’s name and telephone number.
What happens next?
- We review your application.
- We check eligibility for funding with Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
- If your organisation has not worked with NESCol before, we will organise a workplace visit to confirm the apprentice’s job role meets the qualification criteria.
- If an MA place is available, we will contact both you and your employee to arrange the signing of contract documents.
The application process can take up to eight weeks.
Get in touch
For further information on employing a Modern Apprentice, please contact the MA Team.
Telephone 01346 586110
Email MATeam@nescol.ac.uk
Resources
Modern Apprenticeship Guide
