Hiring an apprentice is one of the smartest ways to grow your team, especially if you’re looking for fresh talent and long-term development.
With apprenticeship starts up 7.7% recently, now’s a great time to recruit an apprentice.
In 2026, the process is simpler than ever, and with government funding available, it’s accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Here’s how to recruit an apprentice step by step.
🔹 Step 1: Identify the Role
Start by thinking about areas in your business where a junior team member could add value. This might be as office support or customer service, hairdressing stylist or junior stylist, admin or marketing, and even compliance or fraud.
Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 to Level 7, meaning you can match the training to the role.
At Central we offer a wide range of apprenticeships that can help businesses like your own:
🔹 Step 2: Partner with a Training Provider
Choose an approved provider like Central Training Academy to support you. We’ll:
Help select the right apprenticeship standard
Assist with the paperwork and funding
Deliver training that fits around your business
Offer regular reviews and support
We take the hassle out of the setup process so you can focus on finding the right person.
🔹 Step 3: Understand the Funding
For most small to medium employers training is fully funded by the government, you only pay the apprentice’s wage and there are no recruitment or training fees.
For larger levy-paying employers (pay bill over £3m), training draws from your Apprenticeship Levy/Growth & Skills Levy account, often with no extra cost.
We’ll walk you through your specific eligibility and ensure you access all available support.
Apprentices must receive at least the National Minimum Wage. Rates rise in April 2026.
See our news article on the increase or GOV.UK full rates.
🔹 Step 4: Advertise and Recruit an Apprentice
You can:
Promote the vacancy on your own platforms
Use our help to list it on the National Apprenticeship Service
Ask us to support with shortlisting and interview advice
We can help you attract motivated candidates who are ready to grow with your team.
🔹 Step 5: Onboard and Enrol
Once you’ve selected your apprentice:
We handle the formal enrolment
Training begins alongside their work duties
We monitor progress and support both parties
Apprentices typically spend 6 hours a week on training, which can include shadowing, mentoring, projects, and online learning.
Ready to Recruit an Apprentice?
Ready to Recruit an Apprentice?We’re currently supporting employers in sectors including:
Business Admin
Customer Service
Hairdressing
Fraud Investigation
- Risk and Compliance
📩 Use the contact form below to get started. We’d love to hear from you.
