What are my responsibilities as an employer?

We receive so many calls from employers who don't know where to start, or what the current guidance means to them.  In essence, the requirements are simple. As an employer, you must:

• Provide a contract of employment (for at least the duration of the apprenticeship)
• Pay your Apprentice a fair wage.  There are some adjustments possible to pay thresholds for apprentices, which you can check current legislation on here
• Pay your Apprentice via PAYE
• Register for an Apprenticeship Service account, and ensure funding is in place for your Apprentice's training
• Sign an Apprenticeship Agreement - a 3 way contract between yourself, your Apprentice, and us
• Provide an induction, as well as ongoing opportunities for 'off the job training'.  While some employers are confused by this terminology, this really refers to any developmental activity that aligns to the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the Apprenticeship standard.  Many activities you would expect them to carry out would qualify here.
• Provide training opportunities in the workplace that will allow them to embed their college learning in a real working environment
• Ensure a safe working environment, and relevant training for any specific equipment or risks they may encounter in their daily duties
• Provide regular feedback on their training.  We will arrange 3 way reviews, but the more opportunities you take to give constructive and meaningful feedback to your apprentice, the greater potential there is to shape them to your business needs

There are certain things we will require of you to ensure these responsibilities are covered, as well as areas in which we can provide support to help you.  We will ask you to:

1. Provide a copy of your Employers' Liability Insurance
2. Complete a Health & Safety Assessment
3. Set up your Digital Apprenticeship Service account (we can help!)
4. Attend an Initial Assessment with your Apprentice in which we will align expectations for all parties, and complete all enrolment paperwork
5. Attend 3 way reviews throughout the programme with your Apprentice's trainer

Provided you are doing all these things; treating your apprentice fairly and acting in line with the rule of law for the nation, you are also helping us to uphold British Values.

By keeping a careful eye on your apprentice (or work placement student) whilst under your supervision, and ensuring you report any concerns around significant changes in behaviour, or worries around comments made or actions taken that seem out of character, you can also play an important part in safeguarding our students, you may even contribute to our prevent duty.  For those who are unfamilar, this is our legal obligation, as part of the UK's counter-terrorism strategy, to help prevent individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by noticing and intercepting any changes in behaviour prior to criminal activity taking place.

We would love your feedback! At any point during your journey, if there are things we do well or things you feel could be improved, we are truly receptive to hearing your point of view.

We understand that just as every Apprentice has different needs, so too do our employers, and we pride ourselves on working hard to adapt our delivery and approach to make sure we are meeting the needs of our local employers.  We can only do this if you keep in touch with us, so please do.

We have developed our on programme resources for employers significantly, but we know we can always do more.  If there's something you would like to see, please do tell us.