Frequently Asked Questions on Apprenticeships
Who is eligible to be an apprentice?
What is the difference between the BII Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships?
How long does an Apprenticeship take?
How much does it cost to employ and train an apprentice?
Is funding paid directly to the employer?
Are there any grants available for employers?
How to find a training provider that delivers the Apprenticeship in your area
How do I become an apprentice?
Who is eligible to become an apprentice?
What is the difference between the BII Level 2 and the Level 3 Apprenticeship?
How long does the Apprenticeship take?
How is the Apprenticeship delivered and assessed?
I'm not currently employed within the hospitality industry, what do I do?
An apprenticeship is a work-based training programme which provides a combination of formal learning and on the job training and experience within a specific sector.
The licensed hospitality industry already trains thousands of new recruits and existing employees every year. The BII Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship programmes, designed specifically for the pub sector, will enable employees and employers to formalise work-based, on-the-job training and combine this with industry specific qualifications to achieve a nationally recognised qualification which covers both knowledge and competency (skills).
Research shows that apprenticeship programmes are an optimal, cost-effective way of training, developing and up-skilling the workforce, providing employers with a pool of qualified people with the skills and qualities needed to promote future business success. All this can be achieved at a minimal cost to the employer.
Apprenticeship programmes are a vital way of generating a committed, valuable workforce and play a key role in motivating staff and increasing job satisfaction.
An apprentice can be either a new or existing member of staff. However, they must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week, and meet certain criteria (see below).
If you do not have a full time member of staff but would like to recruit an apprentice, you can work with your local apprenticeship training provider who can help you to recruit an apprentice for your business. To obtain details of your local training provider, contact Qualifications Team at BIIAB (contact details below). You can also contact the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) who will help you to advertise for an apprentice, you can contact NAS either through their website www.apprenticeships.org.uk or by phone on 08000 150 600.
Who is eligible to be an apprentice?
To become apprentice, an individual:
Must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week
Cannot be receiving funding for any other training
Must satisfy one of the following:
UK Citizen; or
EU National; or
EEA migrant worker who has been in the EU for past three years; or ‘Settled Status’ – i.e. resident in the UK for at least three years; or
Spouse of UK citizen or person with settled status who has been both married and resident in the UK for one year
Permanent UK National Insurance Number
What is the difference between the BII Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships?
The BII Level 2 Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality is aimed at existing employees or new recruits who are working at a daily operational level within the licensed hospitality industry. The BII Level 3 Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality Management is aimed at those who are looking to progress into a supervisory or management role.
How long does an Apprenticeship take?
The length of apprenticeship training will vary depending on the prior skills and knowledge level of each individual apprentice. However, it will take a minimum of 12 months to complete the BII Level 2 or Level 3 Apprenticeship. Nearly all of this time will be spent in the workplace.
How much does it cost to employ and train an apprentice?
Like all employees, apprentices must receive a wage, and the minimum hourly payment for apprentices is £2.65 per hour. However, as the apprentice’s skills develop, many employers increase the wage paid to apprenticeships and research shows that apprentices earn an average of £170 per week.
In addition to wages, employers must take into consideration that they will need to provide supervision and support in mentoring their apprentice(s) and the cost in terms of time associated with this are not insignificant
Both the BII Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships qualify for Government funding available from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). This funding, which will cover all or part of the cost of the apprenticeship training, depending on the age and experience of the apprentice, is drawn down by the apprenticeship training provider to cover the formal learning and assessment that is required as part of the programme.
Once you have identified a potential apprentice within your existing workforce, or you have decided to recruit a new employee on an apprenticeship, you will need to get in touch with one of BII’s approved apprenticeship training providers. The training provider will be able to explain in detail what your next steps should be and they will also be able to provide you with details of how the programme will be delivered, the level of funding that is available for the learner and how to enrol on the programme.
Is funding paid directly to the employer?
The funding is paid to the training provider to cover in full or part the cost of delivering and assessing the apprenticeship.
Are there any grants available for employers?
There are currently two grants available for employers, one in England with a value of £1500 and one in Wales with a value £2600, to support employers in recruiting apprentices. In England this is the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 years olds (AGE 16 to 24) and more information can be found about this grant at www.apprenticeships.org.uk. The Welsh grant is called the Young Recruits Programme (YRP), more information about which can be found at www.welsh.gov.uk.
How to find a training provider that delivers the Apprenticeship in your area
To find a training provider that is delivering the BII Level 2 or 3 Apprenticeships in your area contact the Qualifications Department at BIIAB on 01276 684449 or alternatively email apprenticeships@bii.org.
An Apprenticeship is a work based training programme which combines formal learning and on the job training within a specific sector.
The Apprenticeship is made up of 4 elements which make up the framework. They are as follows:
A technical certificate - the learner is able to demonstrate achievement of the technical knowledge and understanding of theorectical concepts and of the industry and its market, relevant to the skill, trade or occupation (traditionally classroom based learning).
A competence based qualification - the learner is able to demonstrate competence in performing the skill, trade or occupation (work based learning)
Functional or Key Skills in English and Maths - the learner may need to sit short separate assessments if they haven't already met the minimum grade from an existing qualification they took (e.g. G.C.S.E English & Maths).
Employment Rights and Responsibilities (embedded within the competence based qualification) - the learner is able to demonstrate that they know and understand areas such as the range of employer and employee statutory rights and responsibilities under employment law, health and safety and equality and diversity procedures and documentation for their organisation.
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How do I become an apprentice?
If you are already employed, then ask your employer to get in touch with us and we will provide you with the details for an approved training provider/college in your area for you to get started.
As an apprentice you need to be employed for at least 30 hours per week which is spread over a minimum of 4 days in the workplace. 'Classroom' sessions are in addition to the time spent in the workplace. In a small minority of cases a learner may be unable to commit to the full 30 hours; in this instance employment must exceed 16 hours per week.
There are lots of benefits to undertaking an Apprenticeship: you can earn while you learn, and learn in a way that’s best suited to you – through hands-on, on the job experience.
The key benefits are:
· Gaining a qualification
· Earning a salary
· Learning job-specific skills
· Getting paid holidays
· Learning alongside industry experts
Who is eligible to become an apprentice?
An individual will be able to undertake an Apprenticeship if they are 16 years or over and NOT already taking part in full-time education and are living in England.
What is the difference between the BII Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeship?
The Level 2 apprenticeship is aimed at existing employees or new recruits who working at a daily operational level. Topics covered include: Food Safety, Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Drinks Service and Working as Part of a Team. At Level 2, learners will also be able to achieve their Personal Licence Holders qualification.
Building upon the Level 2 Apprenticeship, the Level 3 Apprenticeship offers a clear progression route into leadership, so is ideal for those who are looking to progress into a supervisory or management role. Topics covered include: An Introduction to Leadership and Management, Marketing, Profit, Loss and Budget Control and Supervising Drinks Service in Licensed Hospitality Premises.
How long does the Apprenticeship take?
The length of the training will vary depending on your prior skills and knowledge level. However, we estimate that a minimum of 12 months is needed to complete the BII Level 2 or Level 3 Apprenticeship. Nearly all of this time will be spent in the workplace.
How is the Apprenticeship delivered and assessed?
The Apprenticeships are designed to allow the majority of the learning and assessment to occur in the workplace with the option of direct delivery through e-learning and e-assessment. Where learning cannot be delivered electronically, ‘classroom’ sessions will be held either at college or with a training provider.
Depending on the type of job being done, or the elements being undertaken, this could be one day a week or a block release
Whilst there is no set rate of pay for apprentices, all employed apprentices must receive a wage of no less than £2.65 per hour. The National Minimum Wage applies to all apprentices under the age of 19 and apprentices over the age of 19 who are in the first year of an Apprenticeship.
If you are already 19 and have completed the first year of your Apprenticeship, your employer must pay you the ‘full National Minimum Wage’ rate for those aged 18-20.
Many employers tend to increase wages as the individual develops skills, and research has shown that apprentices earn, on average, over £100,000 more throughout their lifetime than other employees.
I’m not currently employed within the hospitality industry, what do I do?
If you aren’t currently working in the trade then still get in touch with us as a number of our training providers and colleges have a ‘Pre Apprenticeship’ programme and can get you kick started with the learning whilst trying to pair you up to an employer!
Alternatively, you can visit the National Apprenticeship Service website where employers. place adverts for vacancies within their business.
