What is an Apprenticeship?
Definition of an Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a paid job combined with structured training that lets someone develop recognised skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours while gaining practical workplace experience.
Apprentices spend most of their time carrying out their role with their employer, alongside 20% dedicated training delivered by an apprenticeship training provider, like Swarm Training. There are over 700 types of apprenticeships available for new recruits and eligible existing employees, making them a practical way for businesses to bring in new talent or develop the skills of their current workforce.
Apprenticeships cover a wide range of occupations and levels, from people starting their careers through to experienced employees developing specialist, technical or management skills. On successful completion, the apprentice achieves a nationally recognised apprenticeship.
What Value Can an Apprentice Bring to Your Business?
An apprentice is more than an extra pair of hands. With the right training and support, they can become a productive member of your team while developing skills specifically around the needs of your organisation. In fact, 78% of employers say they make their business more productive.
Apprentices can bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm and new perspectives into the workplace. As their confidence and experience grow, they can take greater ownership of responsibilities, support busy teams and apply their developing knowledge to real business challenges.
For employers, apprenticeships also provide an opportunity to develop talent from within. You can shape skills around your processes, customers and future requirements, helping to address skills gaps and create a stronger pipeline of people ready to progress into more responsible or specialist roles.
Ultimately, the value extends beyond the apprenticeship itself. By combining workplace experience with structured development, you can build capability, confidence and skills that continue contributing to your organisation as it grows and changes.
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What is an Apprenticeship - The Details
Apprentices must be aged 16 or over and are employed in a real job while completing structured apprenticeship training. Apprenticeships are available at different levels and help people develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for a specific occupation.
An apprentice can be a new recruit or an existing employee.
Employers must provide apprentices with time during their normal working hours to complete their required apprenticeship training.
Apprentices are employees and should receive the same employment conditions as other employees working at a similar grade or in a comparable role. This includes:
Paid holiday
Sick pay
Relevant employee benefits
Workplace support, such as coaching or mentoring
Employers must pay apprentices at least the National Minimum Wage rate that applies to them. The appropriate rate depends on the apprentice’s age and, for apprentices aged 19 or over, whether they have completed the first year of their apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Funding
Government funding can significantly reduce the cost of apprenticeship training and assessment.
For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026, employers who do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy can receive 100% funding for eligible apprentices aged 16–24, up to the apprenticeship funding band maximum. For apprentices aged 25 or over, non-levy employers generally contribute 5%, with the government funding the remaining 95%.
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy can use funds in their apprenticeship service account towards eligible training and assessment costs. Where levy funds have been exhausted, different government funding and co-investment arrangements apply.
Additional financial support may also be available. From 1 October 2026, eligible non-levy employers recruiting a new apprentice aged 16–24 may receive a £2,000 hiring payment. Employers may also receive £1,000 when taking on certain eligible younger apprentices or apprentices aged 19–24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or have been in care.
Funding eligibility depends on the apprentice and employer circumstances, so we can help you understand which funding may apply before you get started.
You may wish to visit the Government website to learn more about apprenticeship funding.
What is an EPA?
An End-Point Assessment (EPA) is the final assessment stage used by many apprenticeship standards to confirm that an apprentice has developed the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for their occupation.
EPA takes place after the apprentice has completed the required training and their employer and training provider are satisfied they are ready to progress. It is an independent assessment of the apprentice, who must demonstrate the occupational competence required by their apprenticeship.
What is the Gateway?
Before an apprentice can begin their EPA, they must meet the requirements of the gateway.
Swarm works with the apprentice and their employer to review progress and check that the requirements set out within their apprenticeship have been completed. Once the employer is satisfied that the apprentice is occupationally competent and the relevant gateway requirements have been met, they can progress to their End-Point Assessment.
What Happens During an End-Point Assessment?
Each apprenticeship has its own assessment plan, so the EPA process and assessment methods can vary between programmes.
Depending on the apprenticeship, an EPA could include:
Professional discussions
Interviews
Workplace observations
Practical demonstrations
Projects
Presentations
Written or multiple-choice tests
Reviews of work-based evidence
The assessment plan for the individual apprenticeship determines which methods are used and what the apprentice must demonstrate to successfully complete their programme.
How is an EPA Graded?
Each part of the End Point Assessment has a weighted percentage attached to it and an overall pass mark is normally a combined percentage that grades you between:
Pass
Merit
Distinction
Fail
Who Carries Out the EPA?
Where independent end-point assessment is required, it is carried out separately from the apprentice’s day-to-day training in accordance with the requirements of the relevant apprenticeship assessment plan.
Swarm supports both the apprentice and employer in preparing for this stage, helping them understand the assessment requirements and what needs to be completed before progressing.
Are End-Point Assessments Changing?
Yes. The apprenticeship assessment system in England is changing, and EPA is gradually being replaced by a new apprenticeship assessment approach.
Under the newer model, some assessment can take place during the apprenticeship rather than all assessment being concentrated at the end. These programmes use a gateway to completion before the apprenticeship is completed.
The transition is being introduced across apprenticeship standards at different times. This means some apprentices will continue to complete a traditional EPA, while others will follow the newer apprenticeship assessment model.
Swarm will make sure employers and apprentices understand which assessment process applies to their programme and support them through each stage towards successful completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Apprenticeships are not only for new recruits or school leavers. An eligible existing employee can undertake an apprenticeship where the programme provides substantial new learning and develops skills relevant to their job and future development.
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Apprenticeships are available to people aged 16 and over, and there is no general upper age limit. This means businesses can use apprenticeships to recruit someone starting their career or develop employees who already have workplace experience.
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This depends on factors including whether your organisation pays the Apprenticeship Levy, the apprentice’s age and their individual circumstances. Government funding can cover some or, for eligible apprentices and employers, all of the training and assessment costs. Swarm can help you establish what funding is available before you commit.
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Yes. An apprenticeship is a paid job combined with structured training, so apprentices spend much of their time carrying out genuine workplace responsibilities. Employers must also provide time during working hours for the training required by the apprenticeship.
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An apprentice is an employee and receives the employment rights that apply to their circumstances, but their job also includes a structured programme of occupational training. This allows them to develop new knowledge and skills while gaining practical experience and contributing to the organisation.
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The apprentice must successfully meet the assessment and completion requirements of their particular apprenticeship. Depending on the standard, this may involve an End-Point Assessment (EPA) or the newer apprenticeship assessment approach being introduced in England. Successful completion demonstrates that they have met the occupational requirements of their apprenticeship.