Compare apprenticeship training types

The different types of training

From hiring a new apprentice to upskilling existing employees, apprenticeship training allows you to invest in the future by developing talent that fits your business needs.

There are three different types of apprenticeship training, each with their own benefits.

Type of training

Apprenticeships

• Durations between 8 months and 6 years
• Suitable for school leavers, those not in full-time education, people starting a new career or looking to upskill
• Apprentices must be 16 or over and spend at least 50% of their working hours in England
• Apprenticeships range from level 2 to level 7
• Read more about apprenticeships below

Foundation apprenticeships

• Duration of at least 8 months
• Suitable for young people looking to get started in a new industry
• Must be aged aged 16 to 21, or 16 to 24 if they are a care leaver, a prisoner or prison leaver or have an education, health and care plan
• Read more about foundation apprenticeships below

Apprenticeship units

• Durations between 1 and 16 weeks
• Suitable for helping your existing employees develop the knowledge and skills your organisation needs
• Must be 19 or older and be employed by you
• Read more about apprenticeship units

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a real job that helps people to earn while they learn, gaining valuable knowledge, skills and behaviours tailored to a specific job role. Apprentices, like any other employees, have a contract with you.

An apprenticeship must last at least 8 months. Some apprenticeships can be up to 6 years long, but the average is 2 years.

Apprentices will be trained by a training provider so they become competent in their role. They'll have to complete a certain number of training hours. The number of hours depends on the apprenticeship they're doing. Training takes place during working hours - usually about a day a week or regular blocks of a week. Find out the training hours for each apprenticeship.

Apprentices will have an assessment at the end of their apprenticeship to prove they’re occupationally competent. They’ll get a recognised qualification.

Who can do an apprenticeship

Existing employees can do an apprenticeship, or you can hire someone new. They must be:

• 16 or over
• have the right to live and work in England
• spend at least 50% of their working hours in England
• not in full-time education

Benefits for your organisation

Apprenticeships can:

• build the skills your business needs
• create a pipeline of talent for your organisation
• improve productivity and staff morale

Qualification levels

Apprenticeships are available between level 2 and level 7. The qualification and experience requirements get higher with each level.

Level 2  

No previous experience needed, equivalent to GCSE. Foundation apprenticeships are also set at level 2

Level 3 

Might need some qualifications or experience, equivalent to A level. 

Levels 4 to 5 

Relevant qualifications and experience expected, equivalent to higher national certificate (HNC) or higher national diploma (HND). 

Levels 6 to 7 

Expert-level study in an industry, equivalent to university. 

Foundation apprenticeships

Foundation apprenticeships are set at level 2 and are designed to help young people get started in an industry.

They’re available across a range of sectors, including construction, engineering, digital and social care. No specific qualifications or experience are needed to apply.

Apprentices will be trained by a training provider to learn knowledge and skills for a range of jobs in a sector. They’ll also learn skills for employment, such as how to receive feedback, working as a team and workplace professionalism. 

Your apprentice will have to complete a certain number of hours of training. How many hours depends on the apprenticeship they're doing. Training is done during working hours - usually about a day a week or regular blocks of a week. Find out the training hours for each apprenticeship.

Foundation apprenticeships are at least 8 months long. Apprentices will be assessed throughout to make sure they’re developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed.

After successfully completing a foundation apprenticeship, apprentices can specialise and progress onto a more advanced apprenticeship. If they progress, their experience will be taken into account, and they could finish their next apprenticeship in a shorter time.  

Who can do a foundation apprenticeship

Anyone aged 16 to 21 can do a foundation apprenticeship. They are also open to people aged 22 to 24 who:

• are a care leaver or still in care
• are prisoners or prison leavers
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan

Benefits for your organisation

Foundation apprenticeships can:

• give your employees knowledge and skills applicable to a range of jobs in a sector
• provide skills for employment, such as how to receive feedback, working as part of team and workplace professionalism
• allow progression to more specialised apprenticeships (level 2 or 3), helping your employees become occupationally competent

Apprenticeship units

Apprenticeship units are short, flexible courses that help your employees develop the knowledge and skills your organisation needs.

They are not an apprenticeship, but the course content is based on existing apprenticeship courses. An apprenticeship unit can last between 1 and 16 weeks. You, your employee and the training provider will work on a plan for when and how the training will be done.

The courses are available in sectors where there are skills shortages across England. At the moment this includes artificial intelligence, engineering, and construction.

At the end of the apprenticeship unit, the learner will do a skills test to show they’ve gained the knowledge and skills your organisation needs.

Who can do an apprenticeship unit

Only your current employees can do an apprenticeship unit. They must:

• have a contract of employment with you
• be 19 or older on the day the apprenticeship unit starts
• spend 50% of their working hours in England

Apprenticeship units cannot be done at the same time as an apprenticeship.

Benefits for your organisation

Apprenticeship units can:

• be done in a short timeframe, and fit around your employee’s existing work
• focus on specific areas of skills you need

Thinking of upskilling an existing employee?

• Employees of any age can start an apprenticeship. This can help them develop new skills, progress in their career and stay motivated.
• Offering apprenticeships to current employees enables them to gain formal qualifications, accelerate career progression, and learn new skills tailored to business needs.
• Training is tailored to what your business needs. Employees could do a full apprenticeship programme to help them gain occupational competence, or a short apprenticeship unit that helps grow skills in a specific area.

Thinking of hiring a school leaver?

• Apprenticeships are an excellent way to attract and train new talent. 
• New hires can join your organisation through apprenticeships tailored to specific job roles. Or they may benefit from a foundation apprenticeship, where they’ll learn knowledge and skills from a range of jobs in a sector, as well as employability skills and behaviours to support progression from education to employment.
• School leavers bring new ideas and enthusiasm to your team, injecting energy and creativity into your workplace. They are eager to learn and can be moulded to fit your company's specific needs and culture. 
• By investing in apprenticeship training for school leavers, you're nurturing future talent and potentially securing employees who grow with your business. 
• School leavers bring a diverse range of skills and organisation from their education and extracurricular activities, enriching your team with varied perspectives and abilities. 

Apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Each devolved nation has its own apprenticeship programmes, eligibility criteria, and funding rules. It's important to note that the apprenticeship standards used in England may differ from the frameworks used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.