Discover how hiring an apprentice can benefit your business by developing skilled talent, improving productivity, and supporting long term growth. With our support, you will receive guidance throughout the process, including recruitment, funding advice, training, and ongoing support to help ensure success.
Anderson Stockley Accredited Training Ltd (ASA Training) is a Grade 2 Ofsted-rated provider with over 20 years of experience delivering high-quality apprenticeship training. Since 2000, we have been supporting learners to develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need for long-term career success.
We understand that work and life can be busy, which is why our training is designed to be flexible around you and your employer. With start dates available throughout the year, we work closely with you to plan training schedules that fit seamlessly around your role and minimise disruption in the workplace.
From your very first interaction with ASA Training, you will be supported by a friendly and knowledgeable team who are committed to your success. You are never just another learner to us, and we are with you every step of your journey.
Our team of industry specialist educational practitioners is passionate about supporting apprentices to achieve their qualifications in full. We are proud of our high, timely achievement rates and our consistently strong learner and employer satisfaction results, which remain above the national average.
Apprenticeships are government-funded training programmes that are 100% work based. After the completion of the apprenticeship, individuals will achieve a nationally recognised qualification whilst gaining real-life experience in a working environment.
Apprenticeships are open to individuals of all ages, aged 16 and over, who are not in full-time education. They are ideal for both new recruits entering a business and existing staff members seeking further development.
At ASA Training, we offer flexible training delivery that allows individuals to learn at times that suit their personal and professional commitments. Every learner is given access to a range of online resources, including revision tools tailored to their specific qualification units and practice exam questions to support exam preparation.
Following sign-up and induction, ASA Training will work collaboratively with both the learner and their employer to plan and agree on a schedule of appointments that supports progress and achievement.
The new apprenticeship standards are modernised training frameworks designed to better align apprenticeships with the needs of employers and the evolving job market.
Unlike the older frameworks, these standards focus on the specific skills, knowledge, and behaviours (KSBs) required for particular occupations, ensuring apprentices are fully prepared for their chosen careers.
Employing an apprentice is a cost-effective and strategic way for businesses to expand their workforce while building a motivated, skilled and qualified team.
Off-the-job training is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day-to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of an apprenticeship. This can include training that is delivered at the apprentice’s normal place of work, but must not be delivered as part of their normal working duties.
Learners must complete 20% of ‘off-the-job training’ towards their qualification. This could include: lectures, role-playing, simulation exercises, online learning, manufacturer training, practical training such as mentoring, shadowing, industry visits and attendance at shows/conferences/competitions. This could also include time spent writing assignments and assessments.
This does not include: English, Maths, progress reviews, on-programme assessment, or training which takes place outside the apprentice’s paid working hours.
The EPA is a holistic and independent assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship. Each apprenticeship standard will set out the requirements for the EPA.
Apprentices will only be able to undertake the end-point assessment once they have been on the programme for the minimum duration of the apprenticeship and have met all the gateway requirements, which are set out in the apprenticeship standard. For some apprenticeship standards, there is no traditional EPA; the provider assesses the apprentice, and the EPAO scrutinises the evidence to confirm it meets the required standards.
Each apprenticeship standard will have different requirements to complete the EPA. Examples of these are a portfolio of work, a professional discussion, work based presentation, work based observation knowledge test and an interview.
Most EPA centres will provide practice resources, mock tests and more to prepare learners fully for their EPA.
As of 2025, changes have been made to the way apprenticeships are funded. The level of funding support your business can access will depend on the size of your organisation.
If your business has an annual wage bill exceeding £3 million, you are classified as a Levy Payer. The Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in May 2017, requires Levy Payers to contribute 0.5% of their annual payroll into a government-managed digital apprenticeship account.
These funds can only be used to cover the cost of apprenticeship training and cannot be applied to other forms of training or development. As a Levy Payer, you are responsible for covering the full cost of the apprenticeship programme using the funds available in your digital account.
Training providers will outline a payment schedule at the start of the programme. Course fees are typically divided into monthly instalments deducted directly from your digital account.
If your business has an annual payroll of less than £3 million, you are classified as a non-levy paying employer. You are eligible to access government funding to support apprenticeship training.
Government Co-Investment:
Effective from 1st of April 2024, the government has introduced new funding measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) that do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy.
Under the new rules, the government will fully fund the cost of apprenticeship training – up to the maximum funding band – for eligible apprentices, removing the need for SME’s to contribute to training costs. This change is designed to create more opportunities for young people and make it easier for smaller businesses to invest in workforce development.
For apprenticeship starts on or after the 1st of April 2024, non-levy paying employers will recieve 100% government funding for apprentices who are:
~ Aged 16-21 at the start of their apprenticeship (including 15-year-olds whose 16th birthday falls between the last Friday in June and the 31st of August)
~ Aged 22-24, and:
– Have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan issued by their local authorities, or
– Have been in the care of their local authority, and their employer has fewer than 50 employees.
Employers outside of these criteria will continue to be required to contribute 5% of the apprenticeship training costs, with the government covering the remaining 95%.
In order to access this funding, the following eligibility is required:
– Learners must have a contract of employment.
– The cost of the apprentice’s wages must be met by the employer.
– The apprentice must have a job role within the organisation that provides the opportunity for them to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve their apprenticeship.
– The apprentice must have appropriate support from within the organisation to carry out their job role.
– Learners must not be enrolled on another apprenticeship or another DfE-funded FE/HE programme at the same time as the new apprenticeship they start.
– Learners must spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.
– Learners must have the right to work in England.
– All apprentices must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
– A citizen of the UK.
– A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) and have the right to live and work in the UK.
– An individual with the right to live and work in the UK who has been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for at least the past three years before the start of the apprenticeship.
– A person with refugee status, indefinite leave to remain, or discretionary/exceptional leave to remain, depending on specific conditions set out by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Additionally, the learner must:
– Be 16 years or older.
– Not be in full-time education.
– Be employed in a real job, or have a valid job offer, where the apprenticeship training is directly relevant to their role.
At ASA Training Ltd, we offer a free recruitment service to all clients looking to hire an apprentice, subject to TOB’s.
Recruiting the right candidate can be a time-consuming and challenging process – but our experienced team is here to help. We’ll work closely with you to understand your needs and match you with motivated, suitable & eligible candidates who are ready to grow with your business.
We begin by gaining a clear understanding of your business and the type of candidate you’re looking for. You’ll receive a Vacancy Form to complete, ensuring all essential details are captured so we can create and manage your vacancy listing on your behalf.
Your vacancy will be advertised on the National Apprenticeship Service (DAS) platform. To enable us to post on your behalf, please ensure you grant ASA Training Ltd the necessary permissions via your DAS employer account (guide available).
Our team will review all incoming applications, ensuring candidates meet the essential eligibility and suitability criteria before progressing to the next stage.
Shotlisted applicants will be contacted for a telephone screening interview. This helps us assess their skills, eligibility, career goals, and motivation for the apprenticeship, in alignment with your requirements.
After successful screening and initial assessment, we will share candidate profiles and CVs with you. If you choose to proceed, we will coordinate face-to-face interviews at your premises at a time that suits your schedule.
Candidates moving forward will be required to complete Initial Assessments in Maths, English (if applicable), and a Skill Scan. These assessments help determine their current academic level and training needs.
Once a formal job offer has been made and the successful candidate has a starting date in place, our team will contact you to begin the apprenticeship enrolment process, ensuring everything is in place for a smooth start.
When recruiting an apprentice, it is important to remember they won’t be the finished product. You should be looking for someone eager to learn, develop and grow into the role. It is likely that the applicant you will be interviewing will be of a young age and will not have experience with being interviewed. They, therefore, may find it difficult to demonstrate their skills compared to more experienced applicants.
