Prospectus

FOR EMPLOYERS

Apprenticeships for Employers

Plumpton College partners with employers across the UK to deliver tailored apprenticeships across a wide range of industries. As an Ofsted Outstanding apprenticeship provider, we help businesses of all sizes build skilled, future-ready teams through industry-leading training programmes.

We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach with our apprenticeship programmes. At Plumpton College, we work hard to provide a service that has real measurable impact and supports long term strategy tailored to the organizations we work with.

Partner with us

Want to explore how an apprenticeship can benefit your business?

Get in touch to find out how Plumpton College apprenticeships can facilitate the next steps of your business development.

business@plumpton.ac.uk

01273 892127

Apprenticeships have changed considerably over the years and are now a viable and cost effective option for organisations to not only develop their future talent but to develop and retain their existing workforce, whether they are in an entry level role or a senior leader.

Used correctly, apprenticeships can play a key role in growing and future proofing your organisation equipping your employees with the most up to date skills and knowledge, which can be applied immediately in the workplace.

Dan Karlsson, Director of Business Services, Plumpton College

Bespoke recruitment support

At Plumpton College, we simplify apprentice recruitment by helping employers find the right talent quickly and efficiently, with expert support at every stage of the hiring process.

How can we help you recruit an apprentice?
  • We will work with you to fully understand the details of the apprenticeship job role you have available 
  • Guide you in writing the person specification and job description which will help you decide what kind of person you are looking for
  • Support you in completing our apprenticeship vacancy template to maximise the impact of your vacancy to increase the number of applications
  • Advertise your apprenticeship opportunity via:
    • Our Apprenticeship Vacancies page
    • the Government’s ‘Find An Apprenticeship’ website
    • Targeted jobsites
    • Our far reaching social media channels
    • Directly to apprenticeship candidates who have registered with our Talent Bank
  • Either select the best candidates to shortlist against your qualifying criteria or send you copies of all applications submitted
  • Assist in setting up interviews with your shortlisted candidates
  • Provide your feedback to unsuccessful candidates
  • Complete initial assessment on your chosen candidate to ensure suitability for your chosen apprenticeship programme, prior to confirmation of their employment

Apprenticeship Service

The Apprenticeship Service is the government’s online portal for an organisation when engaging with apprenticeships. It is your one stop shop for all things apprenticeships. Without an account you will be unable to train a new or existing member of staff via an apprenticeship scheme. Our Business Services team are experts at supporting organisations with setting up and managing their apprenticeship service account.

Apprenticeship Service
Create your Account

Apprenticeship Vacancies

We work with a large number of employers who recruit apprentices throughout the year. Visit our apprenticeship vacancy page to see our current list of live vacancies and apply.

Live Vacancies

Why Plumpton College as your apprenticeship provider?

With Plumpton College as your apprenticeship training partner, your organisation will receive access to: 

  • Nationally award-winning training
  • Industry experienced trainers
  • Leading training facilities
  • Discounts on legislative accredited training courses
    Courses from Lantra, NPTC, BALI and more via our LandPro Training service
  • Dedicated Business Support function
    Providing ongoing, hands-on support and guidance
  • Tailored & bespoke training
    Designed to meet specific business needs
  • Free recruitment support service
    Including access to Plumpton College’s Landed Talent Bank
  • Invitations to relevant industry events & networking opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions as an employer answered.

An apprenticeship is a job with training. Through their apprenticeship, your apprentice will gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career. They gain this through formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practise these new skills while in the workplace.

Off-the-job training is defined as training which is received by your apprentice, during their normal paid working hours, for the purpose of achieving their apprenticeship. It is a condition of the apprenticeship that your apprentice will spend a minimum of 20% of their normal paid working hours completing off-the-job training. It is not on-the-job training which is training received by the apprentice for the sole purpose of enabling the apprentice to perform the work for which they have been employed.

Anyone over the age of 16 who has the right to work in the UK.

An apprenticeship can benefit any employee whether they’re taking their first steps into full time employment or have already been working for some time. A new recruit or an existing employee can benefit from developing their knowledge and skills via an apprenticeship.

How much you pay your apprentice is up to you. Every apprentice must be paid a lawful wage no less than the National Minimum Wage for the time they are in work and in off-the-job training. View current wage rate information. 

Additionally, you may wish to pay more than minimum wage to attract and retain the best talent for your business, and wages often go up as skills develop. If you would like an existing employee to go onto an Apprenticeship training programme, they should continue to receive their current rate of pay and their contract with you wouldn’t need to change. 

This depends on the apprenticeship programme your apprentice is enrolled on. Each apprenticeship is delivered via a mixture of online and in college learning. Attendance at college could range from a couple of times per month to consecutive days every few months (block release).

We will work with you to decide how the off-the-job training will be delivered, depending on your apprentices’ existing skills and knowledge. We will also undertake regular face-to-face or virtual workplace reviews with your apprentice, their designated workplace mentor or line manager.

This depends on which apprenticeship programme your apprentice is enrolled on and their existing skills, knowledge and behaviours. An apprenticeship must provide for a practical period of training that lasts for a minimum duration of 12 months. The minimum duration of an apprenticeship is based on your apprentice working at least 30 hours a week, including any off-the-job training they undertake.

An apprentice’s progression will be tracked throughout their apprenticeship. Course work, professional discussions and assessments will take place during their practical period with certain apprenticeships requiring the completion of specific qualifications. Your apprentice may also be required to complete maths and English  qualifications if they do not have prior attainment.

At the end of the practical period your apprentices’ skills, knowledge and behaviours will be externally assessed, this is called the End Point Assessment. Each programme will have a slightly different requirement, this could include a written exam, interview or oral assessment on the content of their portfolio, production of a show piece, observed practice in the workplace or a simulation exercise.

Absolutely! There are a number of ways we can support your business with recruiting an apprentice. Give our team a call on 01273 892127 or email business@plumpton.ac.uk.

A benefit of engaging with apprenticeships is that the majority of your apprentice’s training and assessment is Government funded via the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS). The amount you pay depends on the apprenticeship programme, the number of staff you employ, the age of your apprentice and whether they have any prior skills or knowledge relevant to the apprenticeship programme.

If you’re an employer with a pay bill (PAYE) of more than £3 million each year your apprentice’s training cost will be covered via your apprenticeship levy. 

Plumpton College is a leading land-based & environmental college. Our offer might be smaller than a general further education college because we exclusively deliver apprenticeships in our specialist subjects. From Arboriculture to Viticulture or Land based Service Engineering to Veterinary Nursing, we have a broad range of land-based apprenticeships available.