Getting started on the Apprenticeship programme

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice under the Apprenticeships programme or the Higher Level Apprenticeships programme, you must be in a job or have found an employer who is willing to take you on as an apprentice.

Finding an employer

Finding someone to take you on as an apprentice is really like finding any other job.

You can, for example:

search JobApplyNI
contact your local Jobs and Benefits office
search newspapers
look for vacancies on employer or recruitment websites
call employers yourself
make employers aware that you want to start an apprenticeship under the Apprenticeships programme
contact your local training providers(s) who may be aware of vacancies

If you are a Third Country National, including European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss Nationals, you and your family members are eligible to undertake a Higher Level Apprenticeship/Level 2 or 3 Apprenticeship if you already have the right to live and work in the UK - Working in Northern Ireland

Find apprenticeship training

Once you are in employment and have agreed with your employer that you can become an apprentice, simply contact an apprenticeship training contractor who will check your eligibility and register your interest in training when it is available.

Your training contractor will then meet with you and your employer to discuss your apprenticeship and training needs. They will develop and agree a training plan with you both.

If you were already on the apprenticeship programme and left, you can rejoin to complete the rest of your apprenticeship. To rejoin the programme, contact an apprenticeship training supplier.

Higher Level Apprenticeships

For Higher Level Apprenticeships, a list of Further Education Colleges and Higher Education institutions offering Higher Level Apprenticeships is available at Higher Level Apprenticeships.

Additional support

If you need additional support, for example, if you have a disability, your training contractor will organise this for you with a specially trained support provider. They will work closely together on your behalf, so that you can benefit fully from the Apprenticeship training programme.

Contact apprenticeships

If you are unsure about which apprenticeship you want to follow, or just need more information on what the Apprenticeships programme can do for you, contact the mailbox:

Contact Apprenticeships

Other options

Further information on all available programmes can be obtained by contacting your local Careers Service.

If the Apprenticeships programme is not for you, then why not check out some other employment and training programmes:

Traineeships

Useful links

For employers

If you want to take on an apprentice or improve the skills of your employees to help your business work better, the Apprenticeships programme could be for you.

Apprenticeships for employers
(nibusinessinfo.co.uk website)

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