What is an apprentice?
Apprentices are paid a wage and receive standard employee benefits, including holiday pay, while they learn and progress towards achieving their chosen qualification. This approach allows your businesses to cultivate a highly skilled workforce while providing people aged 16 and over with valuable career pathways and excellent earning potential.
Apprentices need at least 20% off-the-job training. Training providers and employers work together to ensure learning takes place outside of normal work hours. It's important to keep track of this training, especially for apprentices who don't have day release, as it will be checked.
KSBs are essential soft skills that apprentices must achieve before they are assessed at their End Point Assessment (EPA).
Knowledge
The information the apprentice will learn. Covering theory and technical skills. Some of this will be specific to the job, and some will be general skills that are useful in lots of different roles.
Skills
Taking what the apprentice has learnt and using it to do their job. Apprentices will pick these up through training and experience, but they should be about more than just the day-to-day tasks.
Behaviours
Involves demonstrating appropriate professional conduct within the organisational context. While some behaviours are inherent, many can be cultivated and are highly transferable across various occupations, including teamwork, adaptability, and professionalism.
What are functional skills?
The Department for Education announced that from 11 February 2025, for apprentices that are 19 or older, the employer and or apprentice will have the ability to choose to include delivery of English and or maths functional skills qualifications alongside the core apprenticeship delivery.
16-18 year-olds: Must still continue to complete separate Functional Skills Qualifications where they do not already hold the required level.
Find out more on our Functional Skills page.
Supporting NHS Staff in Delivering High-Quality Clinical Services
As an NHS staff member, your role in laboratory services is critical to providing accurate and timely diagnostic services that support clinical decision-making and enhance patient care. This downloadable document provides an overview of essential laboratory methodologies, best practices, and professional development opportunities tailored for NHS QA/QC laboratory professionals delivered across our 12-month (+EPA) apprenticeship programme.