How to Recruit an Apprentice

So you’ve decided to recruit an apprentice for your business. You’ve made an excellent choice.

Hiring an apprentice is a cost-effective way of filling skills gaps and future-proofing your business with the latest knowledge, skills and innovation.

As with any recruitment process, you want to ensure you find the right person for the role. While there are some similarities between recruiting an apprentice and the usual process, there are also some key differences. 

We asked one of our wonderful Business Development Managers, Carole Sydenham, some of the most common questions employers have when recruiting an apprentice. 
 

What’s the first step in recruiting an apprentice?

The first steps to recruit an apprentice are to identify the job role and any skills gaps that an apprentice would fill within your business.

Contact Total People and speak with the Business Development Manager. We will assess your company’s needs and provide information, advice and guidance for the best suited qualifications and levels.

We’ll inform you of the process to secure funding and grants available, the delivery model and the expectations of all involved.
 

Where will the apprenticeship vacancy be advertised?

All of our vacancies are advertised on the National Apprenticeship Service – Find an Apprentice and Total People websites, as well as across our social media platforms.

When the opportunity has gone live, we'll also send you the link to share with your colleagues and to promote on your own website and social media platforms.

This way, the applications will also be assessed fairly against the criteria you set down.
 

How much does the recruitment process cost?

There are no costs to recruiting an apprentice through Total People. We can support you through the recruitment process with as little or as much support as you need.
 

How long does it take to recruit an apprentice?

The amount of time it takes to fill a vacancy and recruit an apprentice depends on a number of factors, including:

• closing dates
• interview dates
• possible start dates
• the application method
• the time taken to deal with applications
• the type of vacancy.

We recommend minimum two-week recruitment window when advertising your opportunity, but this is ultimately down to the individual employer.

We do strive to make vacancies live on the National Apprenticeship Service website within 48 hours of receiving the relevant information. This is subject to them meeting the quality criteria.
 

How do I know what level the apprentice should be studying at?

There are various apprenticeship levels and each one has an equivalent education level. 

A Business Development Manager from Total People will talk to you about the job role and explain the entry requirements depending upon the vocational apprenticeship qualification that's chosen. The level can also depend on where the applicant is in their learning journey.
 

What support will I receive once I’ve hired an apprentice?

Once you've recruited your apprentice, your Business Development Manager or contact at Total People will continue to be your point of contact to keep you informed of any future changes in funding and grants, and updates on the Total People offer.

Your apprentice will be allocated to a Learning Coach who will support them through their apprenticeship journey.

The Team Leader, Manager or Mentor of the apprentice will have access to the apprentice’s electronic portfolio, OneFile, and we'll be encouraged to engage in the planned eight-weekly progress reviews to ensure they are aware of what is expected of the apprentice and how they can support them through their learning journey.

The tutor will give wrap around support over and above the agreed visits when needed.
 

Our dedicated Recruitment and Engagement team are focused on meeting your apprenticeship recruitment needs. Get in touch today and let your business reap the rewards of apprenticeships.