Information and services for employers

What do employers need to know about apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to improve and grow your business. They provide the opportunity for you and your employees to develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need to support your business, both now and in the future.  

Anyone over the age of 16 can become an apprentice. They can be new to the organisation or an existing employee who has recently changed positions within the organisation. An apprenticeship can start from Level 2 (GCSE level) through to Level 7 (Master’s level). 

Apprenticeships provide opportunities for businesses to: 

• Handpick and train the additional employees you need to plug skills gaps and boost productivity 
• Boost staff morale and retention by providing professional development opportunities 
• Build a learning and development culture in your organisation 
• Demonstrate your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace 
• Qualify for government incentives and funding for training  

Apprenticeships work.  

• 86% of employers said apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce 
• 86% said apprenticeships helped them deliver skills relevant to their organisation 
• 80% said they significantly helped to improve staff retention 

According to a study by St Martin’s Group, the estimated yearly financial benefit for employers is between £2,500 and £18,000 per apprentice during their training period. 

Why Totton College? 

Whatever your training needs, Totton College can help you. We offer a free Business Training Needs Analysis to identify skills gaps in your workforce and can provide end to end recruitment support through our Business Development Team. 

We are proud of our bespoke apprenticeship training programmes, which are developed to meet the needs of our employer partners and the requirements of the apprenticeship standards. Our programmes offer industry-specific training for sectors in Hairdressing and Early Years & Education. We offer a blended approach to learning, enabling flexibility for both apprentices and employers.   

 Whether you are a levy-paying company or a small business, we can support you to navigate the apprenticeship funding system and identify any financial support or incentives available to your organisation. 

Apprenticeships what employers need to know

What’s the next step? 

 For more information about hiring an apprentice for your business, please contact our Apprenticeship Team: apprenticeships@totton.ac.uk or 0300 123 3385 

 To qualify for apprenticeship funding, you’ll need to create an account on the Digital Account Service. We can support you with this. 

 * Correct as of April 2024. Subject to change.