UK Music Apprenticeship Development
UK Music helps develop apprenticeship schemes, which aim to support music employers to hire committed and passionate apprentices and help get talented people into paid jobs in the music industry.
There are a broad range of apprenticeships that fit with the music industry from live events and promotion, creative and digital media. Not all apprenticeships need to be in creative roles there are also frameworks and standards available for IT roles, finance and general administration.
UK Music have been working with industry, CC Skills and ScreenSkills to develop three new apprenticeship standards for the music industry. All at different stages of development they are:
- Assistant Recording Technician – get a role in a studio learning how to produce music.
- Music Project Planner – work for a label or publisher on releases from start to finish.
- Music Instrument Technician – maintain instruments in a variety of settings including musical instrument retail and rental.
Looking for an apprenticeship?
For more information and to search for vacancies use following links for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- England – https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
- Wales – https://careerswales.gov.wales/apprenticeship-search
- Scotland – https://www.apprenticeships.scot/find-a-vacancy/
- Northern Ireland – https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/apprenticeships
Also try DiVA – http://www.divaapprenticeships.com/
What is an apprenticeship?
- An apprenticeship is a way for people to earn a wage while they train in a real job, gaining a qualification and laying the foundations for a successful future.
- You can be recruited into a range of industry-specific roles, including live events and promotion, and creative and digital media.
- You might also consider becoming an apprentice to fulfil operational roles, such as IT, finance and administration.
- Go to getingofar.gov.uk for more info if you are thinking about becoming an apprentice.
What’s in it for employers?
- Opportunity to choose an apprenticeship that directly addresses your business needs.
- The opportunity to make your organisation more effective, productive and competitive.
More information for employers
- An apprentice must be employed for at least a year and work at least 30 hours per week, this includes any time out of the office attending apprenticeship training.
- At present, apprentices must be employed and cannot be freelancers.
- You must give your apprentice an induction into their role and provide on-the-job training.
- As with all employees, you are also responsible for the wages of your apprentice.
- If you are a levy-payer then the training is fully covered. If you do not pay the levy a 5% contribution towards the training and assessment cost is applicable although digital vouchers can be shared to cover this cost – approach us for more info.
Apprenticeship Levy
From April 2017 the way apprenticeships are funded changed. The apprenticeship levy requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill over £3 million each year, to pay 0.5% of their pay bill into a pot that will be distributed via a digital voucher system for training apprentices. More info here.
Unlike in England the funding will not be distributed in Wales, NI and Scotland through the Digital Apprenticeship Service. Current arrangements in the nations will continue although all are undertaking consultations with NI embarking upon a 5-year Apprenticeships Review to create new apprenticeship guidelines and standards.
In England those paying the levy will receive 100% of training costs. Those contributing to the levy will also receive a 10% top-up from government. Those not paying the Levy will only receive 95% of training costs unless certain criteria are met (SME’s – less than 50 employees – who take on apprentices 16-18 years old or apprentices aged between 19 and 24 and who either has an education, health and care plan provided by the local authority or who has been in the care of the local authority.)
