The Apprenticeship Services Unit at the University of Salford are here to support you throughout your apprenticeship journey. From admissions and onboarding to ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship, we are here to make the process as smooth as possible. We can even help you to advertise your vacancies if you are looking to recruit new staff. We’re a small team but we are all passionate about what we do and committed to ensuring both you the employer and the apprentice themselves have the best possible experience. To find out more about our apprenticeship programmes, download our employer guide.

Learn more at our next Open Day

If your employee is ready to take on an apprenticeship and progress in their career, encourage them to come along to an Open Day. At an Open Day, prospective apprentices will talk to Programme Leaders, tour our facilities and attend one-to-one sessions with our team who will be on hand to answer any questions.

To find out more about working with us, email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk, call +44 (0)161 295 3063 or fill out the contact us form.

National Apprenticeship Week

We celebrate our apprentices, partner employers and University staff each year during National Apprenticeship Week. Watch the video below to find out how we celebrated this year with our annual apprenticeship awards ceremony.

National Apprenticeship Awards 2024

Our programmes

We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree apprenticeship programmes across a range of subject areas, including Construction, Engineering, Health, Science and Public Services. Browse the list below for more details. 

Functional Skills

To undertake an apprenticeship programme, the funding rules state that apprentices must hold a Level 2 qualification or GCSE in English and Maths at C / grade 4 or above. If apprentices do not hold these qualifications, then they will have the option to study with our preferred provider Rochdale Training.

This course is potentially fully funded (Dependent on location within Greater Manchester) if the apprentice do not already hold a Maths and/or English GCSE or functional skills Level 2 qualification at grade C/grade 4 or above or equivalent. 

If the apprentice needs to complete both their maths and English functional skills, these will be done separately. 

Find out more about functional skills.

How does funding work?

The apprenticeship levy

Levy paying organisations

The apprenticeship levy was introduced in April 2017 and now requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill of over £3 million annually, to invest in apprenticeships. Once payments have been declared to HMRC, employers will have access to a digital apprenticeship account from which they can access funding to pay for apprenticeship training.

Through the new Digital Apprenticeship Service, employers are able to choose their training providers, select organisations to assess their apprenticeships and post their apprenticeship vacancies. The Government will top up funding by 10%, meaning that for every £1 that enters the account, employers will have £1.10 to spend on training.

Employers are also able to transfer up to 25% of their levy funds to another employer.

Find out more about Apprenticeship funding

Non-levy paying organisations

The Education and Skills funding Agency (ESFA) who are responsible for apprenticeship funding have moved to a digital system for non-levy employers by which they will be able to make ‘reservations’ for funding for up to three apprenticeship starts. The funding will be reserved for three months after which time this funding will expire and a new reservation will have to be made.

Employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to create accounts on the apprenticeship service and begin arranging their own apprenticeships.

FAQs

If you want to learn more about apprenticeships, take a look through our frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us using apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk or +44 (0)161 295 3063.

For information on safeguarding and our British values statement, please see below:

Choose your question

Who pays the apprentice's training costs?

Training costs are covered by levy funds in your digital account. Non-levy payers can receive 95% towards training costs from the Government via the co-investment model. Due to the nature of apprenticeships and how they are funded, apprentices will not be eligible for student finance - this includes tuition fee loans and maintenance loans.

Who recruits the apprentice?

As the employer, you are ultimately responsible for posting apprenticeship opportunities and deciding who you want for the position. We are also on hand to help with recruitment, ensuring you get the best person for the position.

Will the apprentice learn skills and knowledge that is relevant to my business?

Yes, you will be able to inform the course by working with us on the programme’s design and delivery.

Who is eligible for an apprenticeship?

Anyone over the age of 16 can apply for an apprenticeship as long as they meet the relevant entry criteria for the apprenticeship.

What apprenticeships are available at the University of Salford?

We currently offer a range of higher and degree apprenticeships in construction, engineering, science health & society. Scroll up for more details on the programmes we offer and the courses we're developing. If you want to find out more about developing your workforce, please contact apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk or +44 (0)161 295 3063.

How much time will the apprentice spend at work and at university?

Apprentices spend 80% of their time in at work and 20% in university. We have a range of course delivery modes including day-release, block delivery and online learning. The mode of study will depend on the programme the apprentice is on.

How long do apprenticeships take to complete?

This is dependent upon the programme, but apprentices typically complete their degree within one to five years. Apprentices then have up to 12 months after graduation to complete their end-point assessment.

Who pays the apprentice's wage?

As the employer, you will pay the apprentice’s wage, holiday pay, pension and any other benefits your employees receive. The funding you receive from the government (or the levy payments you choose to use) can only be used to cover training costs, not wages or any other benefits. Apprentices must be an employee on the first day of their apprenticeship.

Where can I get more information about apprenticeships?

To find out more about working with us, contact apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk or +44 (0)161 295 3063, or visit the Government's website.

Application deadlines

Please be aware of the application deadlines below for each of our intakes. If an application hasn’t been received by this date, consideration will be given for the next available intake. Please be advised this is a deadline for a full application to be made. A request for services form will have to be completed prior to the application form being shared. 

These dates allow us sufficient time to draw up and issue the employer evidence pack (contract etc.). Please also be aware that we will need to receive the completed employer evidence pack back prior to the apprentice starting the programme.*

  • January 2025 Intake - The application deadline is Friday 29 November 2024
  • March 2025 Intake - The application deadline is Friday 31 January 2025
  • September 2025 Intake – The application deadline is Thursday 31 July 2025

 

Contact

To contact the Apprenticeship Service Unit email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk, call +44 (0)161 295 3063 or complete the contact us form.

If your organisation is one of our partner employers for apprenticeships, please head over to our employer hub, where you will find up-to-date and relevant information relating to apprenticeships.

Alternatively, if you are ready to formalise your request to work with the University of Salford for your apprenticeship training, please complete our request for services form.