Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a way to gain workplace experience while studying for qualifications. Apprenticeship schemes in Scotland are funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Skills Development Scotland.

Apprenticeships allow a learning provider, such as a college or university, to deliver the knowledge and develop the apprentice’s skills, while the employer provides practical workplace experience. Training can be classroom-based, in a workshop or in a workplace, depending on the subject and learning provider.

Types of apprenticeship available

In Scotland there are 3 levels of apprenticeship on offer from school level up to graduate level. 

Foundation apprenticeships

Foundation apprenticeships are available in the last 2 years of school. You can:

• get workplace experience 

• get qualifications accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority

• keep studying other school subjects alongside the apprenticeship

• spend one full time day a week in the workplace

• get entry into further apprenticeships after leaving school.

Foundation apprenticeships are unpaid and you are not classed as an employee.

You can find out more about foundation apprenticeships on the Skills Development Scotland website. 

Modern apprenticeships

Modern apprenticeships are available if you're not in full time education. You can:

• get paid work in the workplace across a broad range of industries and sectors

• get qualifications accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority

There’s no maximum age to do a Modern Apprenticeship but funding that the employer gets for some apprenticeships is different if you’re 25 or older.

You cannot apply for a modern apprenticeship if you're an overseas national or if there is a time limit on your stay in the UK, but you can apply if you are a refugee or asylum seeker.

You can find out more about modern apprenticeships on the Skills Development Scotland website.

Graduate apprenticeships

Graduate apprenticeships let you to study for a degree while working and earning. You can apply for a graduate apprenticeship:

• after a foundation or modern apprenticeship

• directly if you meet the entrance requirements

• if you already have a degree- if it's a career change or a higher level of qualification.

To apply for a graduate apprenticeship you must be resident in Scotland and have a right to live and work in Scotland and the work premises of the apprenticeship must be in Scotland. You must be at least 16 years old to do a graduate apprenticeship and there's no maximum age.

You can find out more about  graduate apprenticeships on the Skills Development Scotland website.

Pay and the minimum wage

Under the National Minimum Wage a modern or graduate apprentice is entitled to the apprentice rate of the minimum wage if they are either:

• under 19 years

• aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.

After that you're entitled to the normal rate of minimum wage for your age. You can check the current national minimum wage and apprentices rates on gov.uk.

Foundation apprenticeships are unpaid.

What you get paid for

An apprenticeship combines work with training. You're paid for all the time you are on the apprenticeship, including training time (except foundation apprenticeships).

If time spent studying, for example at college or at evening classes, is part of your apprenticeship, you are paid for this.

Help with the costs of starting a job

If you're a young person living in Scotland and have been on certain benefits, you can get a Job Start Payment to help with the costs of starting a job. This includes modern or graduate apprenticeships, as long as you meet all the other conditions for claiming Job Start Payment.

Find out more about Job Start Payment.

Length of an apprenticeship

The length of an apprenticeship varies with the skills of the apprentice, the qualification and the industry sector. The length of your apprenticeship should be agreed at the start of your apprenticeship.

Training

A contract of apprenticeship is different from an ordinary employment contract because learning is the main focus with practical work the second focus. Your training may be classroom-based, in a workshop or in a workplace, depending on the subject and learning provider. The time you spend in training, whether at college or elsewhere should be considered part of your working week. 

If you need extra support to do the work, your employer should work with the training provider to support you. If you are not satisfied with your training you should speak to your employer or your training provider.

Health and safety regulations

The employer's health and safety obligations extend to apprentices. You can read more about health and safety at work on mygov.scot.

Transferring your apprenticeship to another employer

If you want to move to another employer during your apprenticeship, it will be up to the new employer to decide to take you on as an apprentice. You should talk to your training provider for support before moving.

You can read a guide to apprenticeships in the UK on the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) website.

If your employer goes out of business

If an employer goes out of business, an apprentice has the same rights as any other employee. You can find out more if you are having problems getting paid. 

You should contact your training provider for information and support about transferring your apprenticeship. 

If you're made redundant

In Scotland an apprentice can only be made redundant or dismissed in very limited circumstances, such as the employer going out of business. If you believe you have been made redundant unfairly you can read more about raising a claim for breach of contract at an employment tribunal.

If your employer has gone out of business you should speak to your training provider for information and support to help you find another job and look at transferring your apprenticeship. 

An apprentice is entitled to the same payments as other employees. This means apprentices who have worked for the employer for less than 2 years don’t qualify for redundancy payments. 

If you're dismissed

In Scotland an apprentice can only be dismissed in very limited circumstances. If you believe you have been dismissed unfairly you should speak to your training provider for information and support. You can also read more about raising a claim for breach of contract at an employment tribunal.

Leaving your apprenticeship

If you're struggling with your apprenticeship you should speak to your training provider for support and advice. Your next steps may depend on your course and circumstances.

When your apprenticeship ends

If you're given a job when the apprenticeship ends, the time you were an apprentice counts towards your period of continuous employment. This affects employment protections like unfair dismissal, redundancy and maternity rights. Whether or not the time spent as an apprentice counts towards things like holiday entitlement depends on the employment contract.