New digital and technology apprenticeship opportunities available across England

Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to develop valuable workplace skills while earning a salary.

Digital and technology apprenticeships cover a wide range of roles, from software development and cybersecurity to data analysis and IT support.

These opportunities are suitable for people starting their careers, changing professions or looking to develop new skills.

Pay your apprentice a salary

• You must pay apprentices at least the National Minimum Wage for both on-the-job and off-the-job training. Different wage rates apply depending on their age and the year of their apprenticeship
• For example, a 20-year-old apprentice in their first year might receive a different wage rate than a 25-year-old apprentice in their third year
• Learn more about pay and conditions for apprentices

Who can hire an apprentice?

Most types of employers can hire an apprentice. This includes:

• sole traders
• small and medium-sized businesses
• charities, trusts and not-for-profit organisations
• public sector organisations like councils, NHS trusts and schools
• large businesses

To hire an apprentice, you must:

• pay them at least the National Minimum Wage through a PAYE scheme
• employ them for long enough to complete their apprenticeship
• give them time to do their off-the-job training during normal working hours
• not be barred or blacklisted for serious health and safety, safeguarding or financial issues

Foundation apprenticeships

Foundation apprenticeships are set at level 2 and are designed to help young people get started in an industry.

They’re available across a range of sectors, including construction, engineering, digital and social care. No specific qualifications or experience are needed to apply.

Apprentices will be trained by a training provider to learn knowledge and skills for a range of jobs in a sector. They’ll also learn skills for employment, such as how to receive feedback, working as part of a team and workplace professionalism. 

Your apprentice will have to complete a certain number of hours of training. How many hours depends on the apprenticeship they're doing. Training is done during working hours - usually about a day a week or regular blocks of a week. Find out the training hours for each apprenticeship.

Foundation apprenticeships are at least 8 months long. Apprentices will be assessed throughout to make sure they’re developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed.

After successfully completing a foundation apprenticeship, apprentices can specialise and progress onto a more advanced apprenticeship. If they progress, their experience will be taken into account, and they could finish their next apprenticeship in a shorter time.  

Who can do a foundation apprenticeship

Anyone aged 16 to 21 can do a foundation apprenticeship. They are also open to people aged 22 to 24 who:

• are in care or have been in care
• are in prison or have been in prison
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan

Benefits for your organisation

Foundation apprenticeships can:

• give your employees knowledge and skills applicable to a range of jobs in a sector
• provide skills for employment, such as how to receive feedback, working as part of team and workplace professionalism
• allow progression to more specialised apprenticeships (level 2 or 3), helping your employees become occupationally competent