82 %

of apprentices are still with their original employer 6 months after completing an Apprenticeship with us.

Small Business, Big Impact

Scaling a small or micro-business is a challenge—hiring an apprentice shouldn’t be. At Derwent Training, we specialise in helping SMEs navigate the process with zero stress.

We take the guesswork out of:

Strategic Balance: We show you how to integrate training without disrupting your daily operations.
Compliance & Red Tape: We handle the “legal jargon,” guiding you through your responsibilities and the funding landscape.
Mentorship Success: We provide the framework to help you mentor your apprentice, turning them into a high-value asset in record time.

Talk to the team today

Contact our Business Support Team to discuss your apprenticeship requirements.

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Why partner with Derwent Training?

Big Ambitions for Small Businesses

We specialize in helping small and micro-businesses punch above their weight. Partnering with Derwent Training means you get more than just a provider; you get an end-to-end support system:

- Bespoke Recruitment: We don’t just find an apprentice; we find the right apprentice, ensuring their skills align perfectly with your unique business DNA.
- Funding Made Simple: Navigating the apprenticeship levy and digital accounts can be a headache. We provide expert guidance to ensure you access all available funding with ease.
- Instant Visibility: Access our talent network immediately by advertising your vacancies directly through our platform.
- Agile Training: Business doesn’t wait for a school term. We offer year-round enrolment, allowing your apprentice to start whenever you’re ready to grow.

How do Apprenticeships work?

Build the Future of Your Business, One Expert at a Time

Why compete for a shrinking talent pool when you can develop your own experts? Whether you are upskilling a current employee or hiring someone new, apprenticeships provide a funded, structured path to operational excellence.

Apprenticeships are a high-impact investment in your company’s future. By bridging the gap between raw talent and industry expertise, you gain a competitive edge while shaping a loyal workforce tailored to your specific needs.

Elite Training, Real-World Impact: Your apprentice follows a rigorous programme designed to master the specific Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours your industry demands.
The 80/20 Growth Model: With one day a week dedicated to expert-led theory, either at our Malton hub or via interactive remote sessions, your apprentice spends the remaining four days delivering results in your business.
The Perfect Match: We don’t just fill seats. Success is built on aligning the right person with the right Apprenticeship Standard for your unique goals.
Collaborative Success: Through regular tripartite reviews, we work as a three-way partnership between you, the apprentice, and our trainers to ensure consistent progress.

Steps to hiring an apprentice

See how easy it is to take on an apprentice with Derwent Training.

We support our employers throughout the full process, ensuring every step is completed properly.

At McCain we like to pride ourselves on being the best and developing our talent from engineering apprentices is one of our top priorities. Good quality, multi-skilled food and drink engineers are very hard to come by so investing time and training in our own apprentices means we can grow them from within to be the engineers of the future.

Your responsibilities as an apprentice employer

Employee Rights

Your apprentice have the same conditions as all other employees working at similar grades, or in similar roles. This includes paid holidays, sick pay, any benefits you offer, and any support you offer such as coaching and mentoring.

You must supply your apprentice with a contract of employment and you should have a role available in which they can become competent as part of their Apprenticeship.

Progress Reviews

Your apprentice is supported by frequent tripartite reviews. This is a meeting between you, your apprentice and their trainer to discuss and agree progress.

This is a funding requirement set by the DfE and is an auditable document as part of the Apprenticeship.

Training & Study

You must pay your apprentice for time spent studying for their Apprenticeship.

All apprentices must pass an End-Point Assessment (EPA) to gain certification. It is at the employers discretion as to when their apprentice is ready for their EPA, but this must be within 3 months of them finishing their learning programme.

Health & Safety Assessment

The DfE requires all apprentice employers to have a workplace health and safety assessment to ensure your apprentice is working in safe conditions.

In high risk sectors such as engineering this will be updated annually., In low risk sectors this is usually only completed once.

We will require a copy of your Employers Liability Insurance Certificate for audit purposes.

Working Hours

Your apprentice must work for 30 hours or more per week, which will include their off-the-job training.

We will ask you for their working hours’ when completing their sign-up paperwork.

Each apprentice will have a minimum number of hours to complete off-the-job. They needs to log their off-the-job training on a weekly basis. Your apprentice’s trainer will discuss this during their tripartite progress reviews.

Apprentice Wages

You must pay your apprentice at least the National Minimum Wage which you can find at www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage.

The apprentices employment contract should make clear what wage is being paid and the hours they are working.