What is an apprenticeship?
Combining academic study, practical experience and the wider employment skills vital for career success, apprenticeships help to stem the skills gap and support economic growth.
Open to new and existing staff, apprentices are employed in full-time paid positions, learning on the job (at no cost to them) while studying for a university qualification through a split of on- and off-the-job training.
Download our Guide to Apprenticeships
Why take on an apprentice?
Hiring an apprentice is a productive, cost-effective way to expand or upskill your workforce, better preparing you for the challenges of a global economy.
Our work-based training is designed in partnership with industry and can be tailored to meet your needs. The chance to gain an additional qualification will not only help you attract new talent but also keep existing staff motivated and committed for the long-term, improving employee retention.
Apprenticeship standards
We currently offer a range of higher and degree apprenticeships at undergraduate and postgraduate level (Level 4 to Level 7) supporting various sectors including construction, planning and healthcare, some of which lead to a professionally accredited qualification.
Each apprentice receives their own learning plan which clearly sets out the expectations placed on them and you as their employer. Work-based learning is recorded via our online apprenticeship platform.
The Construction Site Manager and Construction Quantity Surveyor apprenticeships are open for Level 5 entry.
The Healthcare Science Practitioner apprenticeship is available only to applicants with Relevant Prior Learning eligible for direct entry into Year 2 or Year 3.
The Biomedical Scientist apprenticeship is available to applicants with no Relevant Prior Learning who will start the apprenticeship in Year 1.
How to apply
For details on applying for an apprenticeship, including registering an apprentice and eligibility requirements, please visit our dedicated page for applications.
Why partner with us?
Our world-leading academic experts have a long history of working with industry to innovate, achieve competitive advantages and drive their businesses forward.
Today, we remain as committed as ever to shaping the future of professional life; from access to specialist facilities and our talented pool of students, to bespoke training and professional development, research and consultancy. Our academic experts support companies of all sizes, from start-ups to those more well established.
Funding and levy
If your pay bill is greater than £3m per year, you're required by the government to pay an apprenticeship levy, which can be used to fund your employees’ apprenticeships or transfer to another employer. For pay bills less than this, you’ll receive government funding towards training apprentices according to set funding bands. You may also be eligible to claim a £1,000 cash incentive if your apprentice is between 18 and 24, has been in care or has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
All employers must pay the apprentice’s salary, at least the relevant minimum wage rate.
You can read detailed employer guidance on apprenticeship funding on the gov.uk websiteGo to funding page on gov.uk site.
Advertise your apprenticeship opportunities
If you would like us to help with recruiting an apprentice, we can advertise your apprenticeship vacancies to potential apprentices.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of the apprentice in the workplace is the responsibility of the employer. The University of Westminster assumes this responsibility when the apprentice is at the University. If required for their role employers should provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the apprentice in the workplace. The University of Westminster will provide appropriate PPE for apprentices to use whilst at the University. The apprentice must be covered under the Employer’s Liability Insurance policy and the University requires confirmation of this insurance before the commencement of the apprenticeship and at each renewal of the policy.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is an overarching term used to describe the protection of the health, wellbeing and human rights of individuals. In the context of an apprenticeship provision, safeguarding means protecting apprentices at risk of abuse and neglect, ensuring they are safe, and that their health and development are not impaired. Under legislation, all parties involved in an apprenticeship have to take reasonable action to minimise risks to apprentices, placing safeguarding concerns at the heart of their training provision.
Employer responsibilities
- Apprentices are entitled to expect their employer to place protection of their well-being as central to all operations. Legally, employers must comply with all current and relevant UK legislation and statutory requirements, in place to protect their workforce.
- Employers have additional safeguarding expectations placed upon them for their apprentices, ensuring their welfare is considered throughout. In practice this means providing a supporting framework and also working with the University and apprentice when risks or concerns have been identified.
To meet their obligations employers will
- Familiarise themselves with relevant government legislation.
- Take appropriate steps to understand what safeguarding means in practice at their organisation, in the context of the responsibilities they have for the people they employ.
- Ensure that any staff working with apprentices in a position of trust are appropriate for the role. and do not present any danger or threat.
What our partners say
You get a different mix of people to the usual graduate intake. We have found them to be better motivated and better trained, more useful, by the time they qualify."
John Banbury, Allsop
Upcoming programmes
We continue to review our course portfolio, working with employers to provide new, relevant apprenticeship programmes.
If you're an employer interested in working with us to develop a high-quality programme to meet the needs of your organisation, please get in touch by filling out our enquiry formGo to the apprenticeships enquiry form and we'll get back to you shortly.
For applicants
An apprenticeship is an alternative route to achieving a qualification while gaining valuable work experience.
Visit our page for applicants to learn more about the benefits of doing an apprenticeship.
Find out moreGo to degree apprenticeships for applicants page
Contact Us
We are keen to establish new relationships with employers from a wide range of sectors and welcome enquiries.
For more information please contact our dedicated apprenticeships team on:
+44 (0) 207 911 5027
Or fill out our enquiry formGo to the apprenticeships enquiry form and we'll get back to you shortly.