Got a question about Damar or about apprenticeships? Check out our FAQs or get in touch to find out more.

An apprenticeship is an on the job training programme that develops an employees’ knowledge, skills and behaviours in order to perform in their job role. The training is designed to be flexible and meet the needs of the individual and their employer.

There are no age restrictions on apprenticeships and apprenticeship training can be used for new recruits or to upskill existing staff. Apprenticeships are also now open to graduates. However, we do need to ensure that there is a sufficient enough gap in the individual’s required skills, knowledge and behaviours so that they will benefit from the training.

Apprenticeships can be used for new staff or existing employees, who may need to upskill in their current position or who are looking to change roles.

Skills shortages and staff retention are still among the biggest risks to UK businesses. Apprenticeships can help businesses across all industries by offering a cost effective route to attract fresh talent and to invest in workforce development. If you have trained staff with the right skills for the job, they can do a wider range of tasks and take on new responsibilities – this can help to reduce skill shortages, minimise staff turnover, improve your customer experience and increase productivity.

The delivery method can vary according to the needs of the apprentice, the employer and the qualification. We use a blended delivery model which combines 1:1 and group workshops and meetings with a Damar coach and subject specialists, with online learning, webinars and e-tutorials delivered via our virtual learning environment, Damar OpenLearning. This gives apprentices access to more specialist teaching content and the flexibility to access content when at times that suit them and the employer. Most apprentices need to spend around 20% of their time on their studies.

The minimum apprenticeship wage is £4.30. However, we strongly encourage all of our employers to pay more in order to attract high calibre candidates.