Apprenticeship Myth Buster

Busted! Apprenticeships are available to existing employees and also new workers. Apprenticeships for existing staff is a good opportunity for personal development, career progression or filling a skills gap within the team/organisation. 

Busted! This is definitely a myth. All apprentices are entitled to be paid during their apprenticeship. At LSE, all current staff that choose to develop via an apprenticeship route will continue to receive their allocated salary.

Not true. Apprenticeships are available to individuals over the age of 16 (living in England) looking to improve their skills and progress their career. It doesn’t matter if you’re 27 or 36 or 42 or even 65. Everyone can explore an apprenticeship opportunity!

Not true! If you are an existing LSE staff member undertaking an apprenticeship programme, your job title does not have to change.

This is not true. There are four levels of apprenticeships, and the highest level is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or master’s degree. See table below. 

Busted! Research from the National Apprenticeship Service shows that 92% of employers who employ apprentices believe that apprenticeships result in a more motivated workforce. LSE staff members have the opportunity to make a contribution to the training aspect which will positively impact overall staff retention rates.

Not true. Completing an apprenticeship is a great way of developing new skills in order to aid career progression. It is also a good opportunity to gain valuable on the job experience whilst studying for a qualification. We’ll be showcasing some success stories in the next few weeks, so watch this space!

Not true. This is a common misunderstanding. Apprentices are required to spend 20% of their working hours towards off the job training in order to develop new skills and knowledge, however this time could be spent on a range of things including real process improvement projects, job shadowing, online learning and the completion of assignments.

Busted! There are a wide range of apprenticeships to choose from across different sectors. A database of current apprenticeship standards can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeships website.