Free Apprenticeship Agreement Template

APPRENTICESHIP ROLE AND DURATION

The Employer engages the Apprentice in the role of Engineering Technician at Level 3 (Advanced Apprenticeship) against an approved apprenticeship standard published by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education under the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Act 2017.

The apprenticeship shall commence on 2026-09-01 and is expected to be completed, including end-point assessment (EPA), by 2029-08-31. The practical period of training must be no shorter than the minimum duration specified in the approved standard (a minimum of twelve months of full-time equivalent learning under Enterprise Act 2016 s.25).

The Apprentice's primary place of work shall be: 45 Industrial Estate, Sheffield S1 2AB. The Apprentice's normal working hours are: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 08:00–16:30 (including paid off-the-job training time), which shall include paid time for off-the-job training.

Industry / Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing.

TRAINING PROVIDER AND COMMITMENT STATEMENT

The approved Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Sheffield College (UKPRN: 10003614). The Provider is entered on the Department for Education's Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP). The Employer, Apprentice and Provider shall sign an Apprenticeship Commitment Statement setting out the planned content and schedule of training, the parties' respective roles and responsibilities, the procedure for resolving queries or complaints, and the expected end-point assessment arrangements, as required by ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules (P51).

REMUNERATION AND MINIMUM WAGE

The Apprentice shall be paid a gross annual wage of £14,000.00 GBP per annum, payable monthly on the last working day of each calendar month by bank transfer subject to deductions for income tax, National Insurance and any statutory or agreed voluntary deductions.

The rate of pay meets or exceeds the applicable National Minimum Wage under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015. Where the Apprentice is aged under 19, or is aged 19 or over and in the first year of the apprenticeship, the apprentice rate (reg. 5(1)(a) NMW Regs 2015) applies. Thereafter, the Apprentice is entitled to the age-appropriate NMW / National Living Wage rate. The Employer shall review the Apprentice's pay at least annually and on any change of age bracket or progression out of the first year.

The Employer confirms that, at the start of this Agreement, the Apprentice is under 19 years of age (or 19+ and in the first year). The current apprentice NMW rate shall apply.

TRAINING PLAN AND OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING

A minimum of 20% of the Apprentice's contracted working hours shall be dedicated to off-the-job training, in accordance with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules (paras P75-P105).

Training delivery: A blended approach combining workplace training with attendance at the Training Provider's premises and/or its online learning platform.

Qualifications to be achieved: Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering; Functional Skills Maths and English Level 2 (if not already held).

End-Point Assessment Organisation: EAL (Semta Awards Ltd) (entered on the EPAO register).

Tripartite progress reviews shall take place at least every 12 weeks, involving the Apprentice, the Employer and the Training Provider (ESFA Funding Rules para P127).

Workplace Mentor / Supervisor: Robert Ashford, Workshop Supervisor.

Block-release week in January and July at Sheffield College's Olive Grove campus for practical modules. PPE provided by the Employer.

ANNUAL LEAVE AND SICKNESS ABSENCE

Annual Leave: The Apprentice is entitled to 28 days per year (inclusive of bank holidays) — the statutory minimum under regulation 13 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 paid annual leave per holiday year, accruing at 1/12th per complete calendar month of service, to be taken at times agreed in advance with the Employer. Unused statutory leave may not ordinarily be carried over (WTR 1998 reg 13).

Sick Pay: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) only, as set out in the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 and the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, subject to the usual qualifying conditions (four or more consecutive days of incapacity including non-working days; lower earnings limit).

The Apprentice shall notify their line manager by 9:00 am on the first day of any absence; for absences of 7+ calendar days a fit note from a registered medical practitioner is required.

PENSION (AUTO-ENROLMENT)

The Apprentice shall be automatically enrolled into the Employer's workplace pension scheme in accordance with sections 3 and 5 of the Pensions Act 2008 and the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010, provided they meet the age and earnings eligibility criteria (currently aged 22+ and earning above £10,000 per annum).

Further information on the scheme's trustees, default investment, contribution levels and opt-out rights shall be provided to the Apprentice in the statutory enrolment letter.

NOTICE AND TERMINATION

Either party may terminate this Agreement by giving the other not less than one (1) week written notice, without prejudice to any rights to summary termination for gross misconduct.

Because this is an Approved English Apprenticeship under s.A1 ASCL 2009, the Agreement is treated as a contract of service (service contract). It is accordingly not a traditional common-law apprenticeship within Flett v Matheson [2006] ICR 673; ordinary statutory notice and unfair-dismissal protection under the Employment Rights Act 1996 apply from the point qualifying service is acquired.

Any dismissal shall be carried out in accordance with the Employer's disciplinary procedure and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (TULRCA 1992 s.207A).

Where this Agreement ends by reason of business closure, workplace closure or diminished requirements under ERA 1996 s.139, the redundancy provisions of ERA 1996 Part XI apply. The Apprentice has the right to appeal any dismissal decision in accordance with the Employer's appeal procedure and the ACAS Code.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The Apprentice acknowledges that they may have access to confidential information belonging to the Employer, its clients, suppliers or third parties. The Apprentice shall not, during or after this Agreement, disclose, use or permit the use of such confidential information other than for the proper performance of their duties under this Agreement or as required by law. This obligation does not prevent the Apprentice from making a protected disclosure within section 43A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 or disclosing information that is or becomes public other than through a breach of this clause.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Subject to sections 39-43 of the Patents Act 1977 and sections 11(2) and 215 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, all intellectual property rights in any work (including code, designs, documents and inventions) created by the Apprentice in the course of their duties shall vest in the Employer. The Apprentice agrees, on reasonable request and at the Employer's expense, to execute such documents and do such things as may be necessary to perfect the Employer's ownership of such rights.

EQUAL TREATMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDING

The Employer will comply with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Apprentice and will make reasonable adjustments where required. The Employer shall comply with its duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and, where the Apprentice is under 18, with regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 as supplemented by the Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 (specific risk assessment for young persons, restrictions on work beyond physical or psychological capacity, night-work limits under WTR 1998 reg 6A). The Apprentice shall take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of colleagues and co-operate with the Employer on safeguarding and welfare matters.

DATA PROTECTION

The Employer is a controller of the Apprentice's personal data for the purposes of administering this apprenticeship, processing payroll, sharing progress information with the Training Provider and ESFA, and complying with statutory obligations. Processing is carried out on the lawful bases of contract performance (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(b)), legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)) and legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f)), in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Further information is provided in the Employer's privacy notice.

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This Agreement and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes) arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals of England and Wales.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND VARIATION

This Agreement, together with the Apprenticeship Commitment Statement and any documents expressly referred to in it, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the apprenticeship and supersedes any prior agreements and understandings. If any provision is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in full force. Any variation must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of both parties (ERA 1996 s.4 applies to changes in statutory particulars).

Additional terms: Employer will reimburse travel to block-release training on production of receipts (HMRC-approved mileage rates).