There are a number of apprenticeship pathways in General Practice covering both the clinical and the non-clinical workforce. Apprenticeships offer a multitude of benefits that make them a valuable and rewarding pathway for individuals seeking to have a career in healthcare. Some key advantages of apprenticeships include:

1. Hands-on Learning
2. Skill Development
3. Earn While You Learn
4. Mentorship and Guidance
5. Career Progression
6. Industry Recognition
7. Networking
8. Tailored Learning
9. Smooth Transition to Employment
10. Enhanced Confidence

In essence, apprenticeships offer a holistic learning journey that combines education, practical experience, mentorship, and financial stability, making them an advantageous route for individuals looking to enter, excel in, and contribute to their chosen industries.

Apprentices must spend a minimum of 20% of their time on off-the-job training, which must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework/standard.

This can be delivered at the apprentice’s normal place or work, but it must not be part of their normal working duties.

Employers can offer apprenticeships to new entrants or use them to grow talent from among current employees.

The apprentice must:

• be aged 16 years or over
• have employer’s support to undertake the course
• have Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English e.g. GCSE at Grade C/4 and above or equivalent
• spend at least 20% of their time off-job-training
• be paid for time spent in training or studying for relevant qualification
• learn job-specific skills

Apprenticeships are a productive way for businesses to grow talent, developing a skilled, motivated and qualified workforce.

They are cost-effective, as employers get between 95%-100% of course fees paid through the apprenticeship levy.

Learning can be applied immediately in the workplace, delivering meaningful impact to the organisation and driving performance and productivity.

Investing in staff professional development through an apprenticeship increases employee satisfaction and can boost retention.

Apprentices are funded through the Apprenticeships levy. Employers with a wage bill over £3 million per year must pay the levy and use this to fund apprenticeships. For non-levy paying organisations there are two methods of funding apprentices:

1) Government Co-investment

The employer pays 5% of the training costs to the training provider, the government pays 95%. Employers also need to cover their apprentice’s salary.

2) Levy Transfer

Large levy-paying employers may transfer some of their unused annual levy, these transfers cover 100% of training costs direct to the training provider. Employers still need to cover the apprentice’s salary. Levy transfer requests can be made through the Digital Account Service (DAS) and by approaching the Levy Transfer Team

Find the NHSE Apprenticeship Funding Guide here.

If your business has not had apprentices before, you must register for the Apprenticeship Digital Account Service (DAS.) You will need to set up as a user, complete a security check, add your PAYE details and read & sign the ESFA employer agreement to use your account.

Once your DAS account is set up, you can add your apprentice’s details/ course information – you will be able to reserve funding six months prior to their start date.

Employers can make and use up to 10 funding reservations at any one time.

Digital Account Service

The DAS Account Setup Guide can be downloaded here

The Funding Reservation Guide can be downloaded here

The 2023/24 Apprenticeship Funding Rules Guide can be downloaded here

The Levy Transfer request form can be found here and returned to england.levytransfer.north@nhs.net

The Humber and North Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce & Training Hub are available to support primary care employers in the region through the following ways:

• Advising on additional funding and support that can be gained for specific apprenticeships/ government incentives and training hub schemes
• Signposting to NHSE Levy Transfer Team
• Signposting to Apprenticeship resources
• Signposting to Apprenticeship providers in the local area