Frequently Asked Questions: Apprenticeship Employers

Frequently asked questions for prospective apprenticeship employers looking to work with Birmingham City University.

What are the benefits for employers?

Offering apprenticeships can be a way for employers to attract high-quality new talent with a desire to progress to Bachelor's or Master's degree level within a workplace environment. It can also be a practical way to fill any skills gaps that may exist within the workforce, as the apprentices will be learning sector-specific skills from the start. Staff who have trained with a company may have greater loyalty, and be more likely to stay for a long period, providing opportunities for businesses to produce their own leaders from within.

How can I offer a degree apprenticeship?

You can choose to recruit a new member of staff to undertake an apprenticeship or put forward a current, full time staff member looking to upskill. An apprentice must fulfil the entry criteria for their course of interest and be in full time employment. Please contact us to find out more about how to offer a degree apprenticeship with us.

What support will I receive as a business offering an apprenticeship?

All businesses who work with us on a degree apprenticeship are given a named contact who they can speak to at any time with any questions or concerns. All participants are given a mentor and receive the same levels of academic and pastoral support as our full-time students, including access to the Centre for Academic Success, which can provide help with skills such as mathematics and academic writing. 

How much time does my apprentice need for study?

As an employer, you must provide your apprentices with a minimum of 6 hours per week for learning and projects to support their studies, irrespective of the total number of hours worked each week.

What is the apprenticeship levy?

In April 2017, the government introduced the apprenticeship levy. The levy affects all businesses in England with a payroll over £3million per year, and employers who are eligible to pay the levy pay 0.5 per cent of their annual pay bill. Employers can draw down funds from the levy to spend on apprenticeship training.

The government also run a co-investment scheme in which employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy are able to receive apprenticeship funding. 95% of the training costs will be funded by the government, alongside additional incentives, if the criteria are met.

You can get more information on the levy and non-levy paying businesses on the GOV website.