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Employers


We have a proven track record of successful training and a commitment to providing high-quality custom training which meets the specific needs of the employer and their staff.

Working in partnership with employers to ensure that we provide a training solution that will best benefit the workplace and staff, operating flexibly to accommodate an employer’s busy schedule.

Our strong reputation and team of experienced and qualified tutors mean you can trust us to support your staff to become the best they can be and our business development team will carry out an in-depth training needs analysis to really understand how you work and what you want our training to provide for you.


Apprenticeships ↓  Diplomas ↓


Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are partially Government funded, so are often seen as better value for money for the employer. The way employer contribution is paid depends on whether you are a non-levy or levy paying employer.

Learners can not be charged for apprenticeships at any point.

If your payroll is less than £3 million, you will not automatically pay into the apprenticeships levy and are therefore a non-levy employer.

The Government will fund 95% of the apprenticeship course, the remaining 5% will be invoiced to the employer by the training provider at the start of the apprenticeship.

Non-levy employers can apply to levy paying companies for a Levy Transfer.

If your organisation has a payroll of over £3 million you will pay a contribution (0.5% of your total payroll) into the apprenticeship levy. This is part of your PAYE payment.

Full details of contributions and allowances can be found here.

This goes into your Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account. The DAS can only be used to fund apprenticeships.

Payments are made from the DAS to the training provider every month. If there are insufficient funds in your levy account we will be advised and be required to raise an invoice to you for the shortfall. From April 2026, the government will contribute 75% of the sortfall, with the employer contributing the remaining 25%.

Levy funds must be spent within 12 months, but if you have excess funds in your levy account you can opt to transfer up to 25% to a non-levy paying employer to support the wider community with apprenticeship training.

You will need to set up a Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account to secure funding. Don’t worry though, we can help you with this .

All apprentices are approved by the employer through the DAS.

From your DAS you will:

  • Start, stop and pause apprenticeships
  • Manage apprentices
  • Manage apprenticeship funds

Employers will be required to allow apprentices to learn while earning. Part of the agreement is that they will be granted time working towards meeting the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required.

Employers will be required to allow apprentices to learn while earning. Part of the agreement is that they will be granted time working towards meeting the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required.

Activities that can meet the Off-the-Job Training requirement:

  • Mentoring, such as shadowing colleagues or coaching, is a practical way to learn and allows the apprentice an opportunity to share best practice through demonstration and questioning.
  • Role play or simulations of possible scenarios is an effective way to connect theory and practice, without the pressure of being in the situation. This allows apprentices to understand complexities of dealing with situations.
  • Practical Training isn’t just limited to the classroom, it can also include online learning, such as e-learning, webinars and Ted Talks
  • Studying sessions for research, completing coursework, projects or assignments.
  • Completing workplace reflective journals - written or recorded
  • Contributing to online forums relevant to their role and occupation
  • Attending conferences, industry shows or competing in competitions
  • Visiting other departments or businesses
  • Completing further training (if relevant to their apprenticeship)

Activities that do not meet the Off-the-Job Training requirement:

  • training to acquire knowledge, skills and behaviours that are not required in the apprenticeship standard;
  • progress reviews or on-programme assessment required for an apprenticeship standard;
  • training which takes place outside your normal working hours; or
  • Functional Skills training

Read more in our Off-the-Job section.

Employers ongoing involvement with the apprenticeship process is critical to success.

Apprenticeships work best when apprentices have a mentor in the workplace that can contribute to their development. This includes contributing to the learning journey at the start of the apprenticeship and meeting regularly with the apprentice and tutor for Progress Reviews.

See our section on the Employer's ongoing commitments for more information.

Progress Reviews are a funding requirement, but are also an integral part of celebrating success, identifying development areas and checking that the apprentice is on target.

They are an opportunity for all parties to voice what they feel has gone well and if there are specific focal areas going forward. From an employer’s point of view, it may be that there has been a change in working practice, or a new customer type has been introduced to the setting.

Functional skills is now optional for many apprentices.

Functional Skills in English and maths help apprentices build the essential core skills needed to succeed professionally. These skills are embedded into apprenticeships and support apprentices to communicate clearly, work confidently with numbers, and perform effectively in the workplace.

Although we can provide the full qualifications, many apprentices and employers find that this adds additional, unneccessary pressure.

Apprentices aged 16–18 at the start of their apprenticeship

  • If they do not already hold suitable equivalent qualifications, they must study Functional Skills English and/or maths as part of their apprenticeship and work towards achieving the appropriate level.

Apprentices aged 19 and over at the start of their apprenticeship

  • Functional Skills are optional under current funding rules. Employers and apprentices must agree at the outset whether Functional Skills will be included in the training plan. If included, learners will study and sit the assessments.

Levels of Functional Skills

The level of Functional Skills that may be required or agreed depends on the apprenticeship:

  • Level 2 apprenticeships: Typically aligned with Functional Skills at Level 1 or Level 2, unless the apprentice already holds an accepted equivalent.
  • Higher-level apprenticeships: Functional Skills may be optional for adult apprentices but remain available if the employer includes them in the training plan.

Providers and employers should check existing qualifications (e.g., GCSEs or equivalent certificates) before planning Functional Skills training. Evidence of prior attainment may exempt an apprentice from studying further.

You must pay apprentices at least the National Minimum Wage.

There’s different rates of pay for apprentices depending on their age and what year of their apprenticeship they’ve completed.

The contract of employment should make it clear what wage you’ll pay your apprentice and for what hours.

See the Government website for up to date information regarding pay and conditions for apprentices.

Diplomas

Diplomas are vocational qualifications designed to support an individual in development of their knowledge and skills in the workplace. Often, a diploma is contained with an apprenticeship and provides a structure for the qualification.

There are many benefits to choosing diplomas over apprenticeships.

These include:

  • Completion at the learner’s pace
  • No maths and English exams
  • No Off-the-Job requirement
  • No End Point Assessment Exam
  • Workforce Development Fund eligible (for health and social care settings)

The cost of a diploma is dependant on the level of qualification - please give us a ring or email marketing@nortonwebb.com for further details.