Myth-buster #1: Apprenticeships are open to ALL staff, new and existing!
Posted on: 7th Apr 2025
Feature 
There are more than three quarters of a million staff studying an apprenticeship in the UK at any given time, that’s approximately 4.5% of our working population.
It’s well documented how apprenticeships in their modern era are delivered across all sectors and help employers to increase productivity, develop a skilled workforce and boost retention.
Despite this, one area of apprenticeship delivery remains highly misunderstood:
Apprenticeships are open to ALL staff – new and existing
In the first of a series of myth-busting blogs for employers, we explore how apprenticeships are enhancing the skillsets and career pathways of experienced, senior, colleagues motivated to be the best version of themselves.
Challenging stereotypes
It’s an age-old stereotype that apprenticeships are only suitable for school-leavers.
In the most recent academic year, 165,000 people aged 25 or older started an apprenticeship in the UK. That’s more than double the number of people aged 16-18 that started an apprenticeship in the same period.
Apprenticeships serve a great purpose to school leavers.
But vocational training today is delivered from Level 2 (equivalent to five GCSE passes) right up to Level 7 (equivalent to a master’s degree).
New and existing staff
Closely linked to the above is people’s misunderstanding that apprenticeships cannot be studied by employees that are already part of an organisation.
Regardless of a person’s age, job role, experience or background, there is an apprenticeship out there for everyone. Even better, training for SMEs and levy paying companies is in almost all cases funded by the Government via the levy – so training doesn’t cost the employer a penny!
Adding value to your business
The benefits of enrolling staff onto an apprenticeship programme are far from being restricted to the learner – they help employers too, and for multiple reasons.
As part of our National Apprenticeship Week celebrations, our team covered in-depth the core advantages of investing in apprenticeships for employers which you can read here.
Some of the top-line benefits to employers include:
- Boost staff retention
- FREE training
- Address key skills gaps
- Invest in the future of your team
- Offset National Insurance rises
‘Studying an apprenticeship in my 50s was a game-changer’
Susan Hill works as a Progression Coach for charity Oxfordshire Youth.
She started a Level 5 Leadership and Management apprenticeship aged 54 and hasn’t looked back since enrolling.
“Everyone assumes apprenticeships are for young people only,” said Susan. “But my first experience studying an apprenticeship has gone above and beyond expectations.
“I’ve worked full-time for more than three decades, so have built skills over time which are relevant to my role. But that shouldn’t act as a blocker to adding to my skillsets and keeping on top of industry trends.
“There were knowledge gaps in my role as a manager, which are now being addressed.
“I’m better educated, more aware, confident in my ability to lead my team and make decisions with clarity. An apprenticeship in my 50s has been a game changer!”
Get in touch!
If you’d like to learn more about any of Ignite Training’s apprenticeship programmes, simply drop our friendly team a message today.
Our standards cover leadership and management, teaching, coaching, content creation and more.
Email: hello@ignitetraininguk.com
Call: 0300 303 0890
We look forward to hearing from you!
