29.05.2025

Setting up your first apprenticeship programme is not without its challenges.

Where do you start with legal compliance, contracts, insurance and structuring a scheme – not to mention knowing how much time to invest in training?

It can all feel overwhelming.

However, the rewards far outweigh the effort. In fact, hiring apprentices can be a game-changer for your business.

It can attract fresh talent, ideas and energy, and help to futureproof your workforce.

And with the government recently slashing red tape to make it easier for employers to hire apprentices, it’s a great time to use it to give your business a boost.

In this article, we guide you through four essential steps to build a successful apprenticeship programme.

Define your business needs

The first step is to identify why you want to take on an apprentice.

What are your business’ specific needs? Is it for succession planning? Or does your organisation need fresh tech skills or knowledge?

Once you’ve identified your goals, you can recruit apprentices who are not only a good fit now, but who will grow with your business.

Choose your scheme

There are a wide range of apprenticeship programmes available to employers, so take time to do your research before deciding which one best suits your business.

For example, do you want your business to partner with a local college or local training provider?

It’s also worth investigating the different funding options, such as the government’s Apprenticeship Levy, which is designed to provide support to employers hiring apprentices.

Setting up a scheme can be complex, but you can take the pressure off by getting expert advice on legal and regulations side, including around training, contracts, insurance and salaries.

Think about mentors

It’s important to plan how you’re going to offer ongoing support to apprentices within your business.

One great way of doing this is by assigning an impartial mentor to guide an apprentice through the programme – this works best if you choose someone who isn’t their manager. The mentor can check in regularly and make sure that their studies are going to plan.

It’s also worth planning where apprentices will get exposure to their job – and create a schedule for where they can gain their skills. Hands-on learning is extremely valuable for both the apprentice and the business as it speeds up the learning process.

Make sure all staff are aware of their responsibilities regarding supporting apprentices - and that they understand the long-term strategy behind hiring them.

Recruit the right apprentices

 To make sure you attract the best people for your business, design your job adverts so they clearly highlight the advantages of joining your business. Whether this involves opportunities in training or career progression, be clear and specific in your adverts.

As well as promoting your vacancies on apprenticeship websites, shout about them on your social media. Interview case studies of apprentices who have progressed within your business and share their journey and success stories.

Build relationships with schools, colleges or local training providers to help you reach young people.

And offer a supportive and transparent recruitment process with clear communication and realistic expectations. You want to hire apprentices who are keen to stay with your business – and grow with it.

How Make UK can help

It’s understandable to be wary of starting an apprenticeship programme. It can be a new and complex area of business.

But apprentices can add a huge amount of value by bridging skills gaps, injecting new energy and ideas, questioning existing ways of working and generally shaking up the status quo. And this can give you a huge competitive advantage.

Make UK offers a package of support to help you navigate setting up your own apprenticeship scheme. Our specialists are here to help guide you through, step-by-step.

We can be a supportive partner whatever your questions, offering advice and guidance on everything from the legal aspects to how to structure a programme and the recruitment process.

Please reach out to our Business Development Team to find out how we can help

you to develop an effective apprenticeships scheme to help grow your organisation.

To find out more about apprentices, call us on 0808 168 5874 or email [email protected].