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Apprenticeships are available to anyone aged 16 and above. The purpose of an apprenticeship is training, therefore its suitability is based on training needs, not age.

People of all ages including 50+ undertake training for their current or new job role. There are particular benefits in the apprenticeship format, which make it one of the most attractive choices for career progression and education. Read more in our comparison of apprenticeships to other types of education and training.

The job role must be valid for the qualification and suggested job roles are listed in our course descriptions for each of our courses.

You must be in a job to do an apprenticeship, therefore if your current role is eligible for the qualification (job description, contracted hours etc.), you might be able to ask your employer to sign you up as an apprentice in their organisation. This would mean that 20% of your working hours would be dedicated to training and not working on the job. You can request assistance from Commun-IT if you need to have this discussion with your employer.

For a Commun-IT apprenticeship, your work hours per week should be 31 or higher. If the job is not relevant to the Qualification Standard, you must find a job that is. You can check our vacancies here, and/or have us contact you if a suitable vacancy arises by filling in this form.

You are not prevented from having another job separate from your apprenticeship job. If you wish to undertake an additional job such that you can pursue an apprenticeship qualification, you can do so. However, if you are not performing your job properly as a apprentice, or you are lacking in your training, both the training provider and the employer have a right to end your apprenticeship.

The gov.uk website displays the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices as £4.30 per hour as of April 2021, for the first year of employment.

The apprentice wage makes it possible for employers to still give paid job opportunities to unqualified staff. The employer does however, undertake a commitment to spend their own time and resource (both do cost the employer money) to help you get qualified and pass your course.

In your own career development, it is important to gain an understanding of your value as an employee. You must learn to record your results (deliverables) and achievements both quantitatively and qualitatively, as they serve a basis for negotiating your pay and the opportunities made available to you.

If you really are motivated to reach your peak performance, read our article on “Intrapreneurship”.

For your off-the-job training with your training provider, you will be assigned to a trainer for your course. They will sometimes train you in a group class and sometimes directly. They can also observe you at work and attend meetings with your employer. They will also receive support from other staff at Commun-IT to help you. Specialist modules in your training might be delivered by a different trainer too.

For your on-the-job training, you can ask your workplace to provide a mentor for you. This does not have to be your manager. A mentor can support and guide you. However, your manager may also perform this duty. Your employer may make other training arrangements for you that are necessary for your role such as First Aid.

Your training is part of your work and is underpinned by your job contract. Therefore, your employer still handles things such as holiday under normal employment law.

Before committing to an apprenticeship, you must make yourself aware of any specific requirements that cannot be adapted for you e.g. compulsory training sessions that cannot be scheduled again.

If you have started training, you should inform your trainer as early as possible that you will be away and they can instruct you as to how to make up for lost time.

Apprenticeships are vocational training therefore any job can continue during an apprenticeship – the key is to put all preparations in place so that scheduling and delivery formats are discussed and agreed up front.

Apprenticeship Standards have been designed collaboratively by training providers and employers. They are focused on a set of job roles, all of which require the knowledge, skills and behaviours that the apprenticeship training delivers or prepares you for.

If you answer yes to the below two questions for any particular apprenticeship standard, then you should consider it:

• Do I want to do this job and progress in this line of work?
• Do I want to learn these knowledge, skills and behaviours?