Apprenticeship FAQs

An apprenticeship is your fast track to a fantastic career. You’ll get a real job with a proper salary while gaining valuable qualifications and hands-on experience. Instead of building up student debt, you’ll be building professional skills that employers really value.
You’ll split your time between working with your employer and training with us at HWGTA. With an employer, you’ll be doing a real job, learning from experienced colleagues and getting stuck into exciting projects.
During your training days, you’ll develop professional skills and work towards recognised qualifications that help you progress even further.
Plus, you get all the perks of being employed – like paid holidays, workplace benefits and a regular salary – while learning skills that set you up for life.

You’ll earn at least the National Minimum Wage for apprentices, which increases after your first year to match the standard minimum wage for your age group. Many employers offer more than this. Plus, your salary could increase as you progress through your apprenticeship and gain more experience and responsibility. Check the latest rates on the gov.uk website.

As an employed apprentice, you’ll get paid holidays just like any other employee. The exact amount will depend on your working hours and employer, but you’ll typically get at least 20 days plus bank holidays. Your employer will explain your full holiday allowance when you start.

Yes. Many people use apprenticeships to develop their skills in their current job. Have a chat with your employer about the opportunities – they might be keen to support your development. Plus, there’s funding available to help cover the training costs.

Definitely. Many apprentices progress to higher levels after completing their initial qualification. For example, you might start with a Level 2 Customer Service apprenticeship and then move up to Level 3 as your role develops. Your employer just needs to support this, and your job role needs to match the new qualification level.

Most employers view apprenticeships as a way to develop their future talent, so there’s often a permanent role at the end. While it’s not guaranteed, if you work hard and show what you can do, you’ll be in an excellent position for permanent employment, either with your current employer or elsewhere with your new skills and qualifications.

You can start a Business Administration or Customer Service apprenticeship at any time. We’re always working with local employers to fill opportunities in these roles. Accountancy and Engineering programmes usually start in September, though applications are welcome year-round.

It varies by programme:

• Business Administration and Customer Service: 12-15 months
• Accountancy: 12-20 months depending on level
• Engineering: Up to four years, with your first year in our specialist training centres

Absolutely. We welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds. Many people choose apprenticeships after A-levels or university because they want to combine practical experience with further qualifications.

Head to www.hwgta.org/apply to start your journey. We’ll invite you for a friendly chat to understand your interests and match you with the right opportunities. Remember, employers are looking for enthusiastic people who want to learn and develop. So, just be yourself.

The best apprenticeship is the one that matches your interests and ambitions. Think about what you enjoy, what you’re good at and where you want your career to go. Whether it’s solving engineering challenges, working with numbers or helping customers, choose something that excites you.

You’ll have a dedicated HWGTA learning & development specialist who’ll support you throughout your apprenticeship. They’ll visit you regularly at work, help you stay on track with your learning, and be there if you need any advice or support. We’re committed to helping you succeed.

We encourage everyone to join our residential week. It’s a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, make friends and develop new skills. However, we understand it might not be for everyone, so we’re happy to discuss alternatives if you’re unsure.