Apprenticeship Information For Employers

Looking for a cost-effective way to upskill your team or gain fresh talent? City of Bristol College can help you take on an apprentice.

Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way for businesses to upskill their workforce and take on new employees. We can support you with every stage of the process, from recruiting an apprentice through to their end point assessment.

Apprenticeships work for every type and size of business, and we offer apprenticeships for every major business sector. We work with many of the region’s largest employers and local SMEs.

We offer apprenticeships from Level 2 all the way up to Level 6.

What Are The Benefits Of Taking On An Apprentice?

  • Investment in your future workforce
  • A committed addition to your workforce
  • Injection of fresh ideas and perspective to your company
  • Apprentices often bring strong new technology skills
  • Clear progression routes to higher-level qualifications for advancement
  • A cost-effective solution to staff recruitment
  • Industry-recognised training
  • Boost your corporate social responsibility by investing in young people

How It Works

If you decide to employ an apprentice, we’re here to help you throughout the process.

Once you first engage with us you will be assigned a Business Development Manager (BDM), who will work with you up to the point you employ an apprentice, and stay in touch throughout the apprenticeship programme. Our experienced recruitment team runs a full evaluation and shortlisting process, before presenting you with suitable candidates.

You will then work with your apprentice’s assessor to support them to complete their programme, and can contact us at any time for support.

Will My Apprentice Have To Attend College?

Apprentices are required to undertake 80% on-the-job training and 20% off-the-job. Off-the-job training can be completed at the apprentice’s usual place of work, as long as the training doesn’t form part of their daily responsibilities, or it can be done at College using either a day-release model or block release.

Meet Our Apprenticeship Sales and Support Team

Katherine Woodward
Head of Department – Business, Professional, Engineering, Creative and Leisure (Work Based)

Martin Horne
Head of Department – Apprenticeships (Construction and Motor Vehicle)

Luke Hastings
Workforce Advisor

Nicola Beaumont
Apprenticeships Business Development Manager

Heather Tavener
Apprenticeships Business Development Manager

Bonnie Smith
Client Administrative Co-ordinator

Kristina Hill
Team Leader

Sami Wilson
Business Development Officer

Kaitlin Bull
Business Administration Apprentice

Start Your Apprenticeship Journey with City of Bristol College

Start your apprenticeship journey with City of Bristol College

Employ An Apprentice Through The South West Apprenticeship Company (SWAC)

The South West Apprenticeship Company (SWAC) is an Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA). They support employers in the South West region to recruit and employ apprentices. They can offer you specialist Apprentice HR advice and support.

Read more or visit the SWAC website to find out more or contact the apprenticeship team today by calling 0117 312 5250.

What Funding Is Available?

Apprenticeship Levy

What is the Levy?

The Levy encourages businesses to train employees through apprenticeships.

If you have a UK business with an annual wage bill of £3m or more you will pay the Levy. Which means you will have Apprenticeship Levy funds.

We can help you to take advantage of your Apprenticeship Levy funds. This is your opportunity to bring new talent to your team or upskill existing employees.

Find out more about the Levy.

We can help you use your Levy to pay for apprenticeship training.

Funding for smaller businesses

If you have a small business in England, the government will pay 95% of your apprentice training costs (up to the funding band maximum).

If you don’t pay the Apprentice Levy (if you have a wage bill of less than £3m per year), you can get this co-investment.

  • If the apprentice you take on is any age and you employ more than 50 people you will pay 5% co-investment funding.
  • If the apprentice you take on is over 19 then the government will pay 95% of the apprentice training costs, you as the employer will pay 5%.
  • If the apprentice you take on is under 19 then the government will pay 100% of the apprentice training costs, you as the employer may also be eligible for an incentive payment.

Find out more about funding apprenticeships if you don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy.

Where to find us