Apprenticeship FAQ

Have a question about Apprenticeships? Check out our Apprenticeship FAQ below!

If we haven’t answered your question in the Apprenticeship FAQ below, you can complete the form on this page and a member of the Optimum Skills team will be in touch to answer your question. (Optimum Skills aims to respond to all enquiries within 48hrs of receipt, excluding Saturday & Sunday.)

An apprenticeship is a genuine job where the apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone aged 16 and over, living in England and have no upper age limit. Each individual job vacancy will have their own entry requirements, like any job.

Apprentices aged 16 to 18, or 19 + and in the first year of their
apprenticeship are entitled to the apprenticeship minimum wage.
Apprentices aged 19+ and past the first year of their apprenticeship, are
entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage for their age.

Apprentices must work a minimum of 30 hours per week, and for
those aged 18 and under they can not work more than 40 hours.

Apprentices are entitled to statutory work rights which include;
contract of employment, paid holidays, sick pay, minimum of 28 days
annual holiday and the national minimum wage for apprentices. – For
further information refer to UK Government guidance.

Apprenticeships are available from level 2 all the way up to level 7.

Level 2 is equivalent to 5 GCSE passes at grade A* – C or 9 -4

Level 3 is equivalent to 2 A level passes / Level 3 diploma / international baccalaureate

Level 4, 5, 6, and 7 are equivalent to a foundation degree and above

Level 6 and 7 are equivalent to bachelor’s or master’s degree