Apprenticeships at Abingdon & Witney College
For all your Apprenticeship needs.
Apprenticeships are a great alternative to part time or full time study at College. They provide interesting and challenging ways to learn whilst in employment. You can “earn while you learn” and gain a nationally recognised qualification that it is really valued by employers.
We currently offer a range of Apprenticeships including:
Intermediate Level
Accountancy
Business and Administration
Customer Service
Horticulture
- Amenity Horticulture
- Greenkeeping
- Hard Landscaping
- Sports Turf
IT Users
Motor Vehicle
Advanced Apprenticeships
Accountancy
Business and Administration
Customer Service
Horticulture -
- Parks, Gardens and Green Spaces
- Greenkeeping
- Hard Landscaping
- Sports Turf
IT Users
Motor Vehicle
What do employers say about Abingdon & Witney College?
“I would like to congratulate Abingdon & Witney College for the excellent information provided on the Apprenticeship scheme, along with all the help given when additional information has been required. It has been a great pleasure to work with Abingdon & Witney College. The Apprentice Training Co-ordinator has made the first year of the Apprenticeship work very well.”
Tom Williams, Grounds Manager, Oxford Brookes University
“Congratulations to Abingdon &Witney College. [You] have provided an excellent foundation for our Apprentice to build upon [and] we look forward to future educational relationships with you.”
Sid Arrowsmith, Frilford Heath Golf Course
“As a company we pride ourselves on encouraging the professional development of our staff but there isn’t always a bottomless pit of money available to do that. Apprenticeships are a way of providing that training … so it’s too good an opportunity to miss.”
Bernie McManus, HR Manager, TTMobiles
“This scheme has benefitted both the company and individuals and we will look forward to putting more employees through the scheme.”
Dean Davis, Head Professional and Director of Golf at Hinksey Heights Golf Club.
I’m an employer and am thinking about hiring an Apprentice. What are the benefits?
Apprenticeships ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs, now and in the future. The mixture of on and off job learning ensures they learn the skills that work best for your business. Over 130,000 employers offer apprentice places because they understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business – increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force.
Did you know?
1. 92% of employers who employ Apprentices say that Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce
2. 83% of employers who employ Apprentices rely on their Apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future
3. Your existing staff may be eligible to enrol on to an Apprenticeship programme
I’m an employer and I’d like my employees to benefit from training, but I don’t have a vacancy. Can I still access Apprenticeships?
Yes, absolutely. Your existing employees could still benefit from Apprenticeship training. The College will help you to determine which Apprenticeship framework would be most appropriate for your member of staff. The same fees would apply to existing staff as to new Apprentices. If you already employ 16 – 18 year olds then you could enrol them on to an Apprenticeship training programme at no cost. The College would subsidise training for any of your employees over 19 years of age, but you would need to make a small contribution to the cost of their programme. Don’t forget, if Apprenticeships aren’t suitable for your existing employees, then Abingdon & Witney could still help you with your training and development needs. Clear here {link} for more information about our other training services for employers.
As an employer, why should I work with Abingdon & Witney College?
1. Free training for 16 – 18 year old Apprentices
2. Heavily subsidised training for Apprentices over 19 years old
3. Free recruitment service to all employers
4. Dedicated account management for all your training needs
5. Wide range of Apprenticeships available
6. Bespoke delivery models to suit your business
Frequently asked questions
What are Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed around the needs of employers and provide nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships can be used to train both new and existing employees. Over 200 different Apprenticeship qualifications are available at Intermediate and Advanced Level. An Intermediate Apprenticeship is equivalent to 5 good GCSEs and an Advanced Apprenticeship is equivalent to 2 A Levels.
Apprentices will study a number of individual qualifications as part of their Apprenticeship. These include:
1. A competence based qualification such as an NVQ
2. A knowledge based qualification such as a BTEC or City & Guilds certificate
3. Literacy and Numeracy
4. Employee Rights and Responsibilities
5. Personal Learning and Thinking Skills
When the Apprentice successfully achieves all these components they are awarded the Apprenticeship framework relevant to their chosen area of employment.
How long will an Apprenticeship take?
Depending on the job role, delivery method and previous experience of the Apprentice the programme could take 1 – 2 years.
How are Apprenticeships delivered?
Apprenticeships are mostly delivered in the workplace. Some qualifications involve classroom delivery and this can take place at College or on employer premises. The College offers a range of day release, block release and 1:1 tuition options to suit the needs of employers and Apprentices alike.
How much will an Apprenticeship cost?
All course fees associated with Apprenticeships are paid by the employer. Training for 16 – 18 year old learners is free. The College will subsidise training for Apprentices over 19 years old. Course fees paid by the employer will vary but are likely to be in the region of £600 - £800 depending on the qualification.
Does an Apprentice need to be employed?
Yes. Apprentices need to be in employment for a minimum of 30 hours per week and should be paid the national minimum wage appropriate to their age group. For 16 – 18 year old Apprentices this is £2.60 per hour. Employers can pay more than the minimum wage if they wish to and many organisations do choose to pay more.
I’m thinking about becoming an Apprentice. What’s in it for me?
Apprentices do real jobs for real employers so you’re paid while you learn. If you are entering work for the first time, you will start earning from day one of your Apprenticeship.
There is no set rate of pay for apprentices, however all employed apprentices must receive a wage of no less than £2.60 per hour. However the average wage per week for an apprentice is now around £170 and in some job roles this could be more. Research shows that apprentices earn, on average, over £100,000 more throughout their lifetime than other employees.
Your employer and the College will make sure you have support whilst you are training. Your Assessor will meet with you in the workplace on a regular basis and will also meet with your employer to ensure that they are providing all the support that you need.
Once you have achieved your Apprenticeship, you don’t have to stop learning. You can progress on to an Advanced or Higher Apprenticeship and many Universities will offer you a place on a foundation degree or other higher level qualification if you have an Apprenticeship background.
