Who can apply?

Apprenticeship eligibility is set by the UK government. Most people meet the criteria — here's how to check.

The mandatory criteria

To start an apprenticeship in England you need to:

  • Be 16 or over on the start date
  • Live in England (different rules apply for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
  • Have the right to work in the UK
  • Not be in full-time education (or be about to leave)
  • Not be on another government-funded apprenticeship

English and maths

You'll need GCSE English and maths at grade 4 (C) or above by the end of the apprenticeship — not necessarily before you start.

If you don't have them already, you'll do Functional Skills Level 2 alongside the apprenticeship at no extra cost. About 1 in 3 of our apprentices do this and pass first time.

If you already have a degree

You can still do an apprenticeship — as long as it represents substantial new skills, not a sideways move into the same kind of role you already qualified for.

Lots of our apprentices have humanities or arts degrees and use the apprenticeship to pivot into digital. That's well within the rules.

Funding accelerators

A few groups trigger 100% government-funded training (employer pays nothing for the apprenticeship cost). Check if any apply to you:

  • Aged 16–18 at start, or up to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan
  • Care-leaver up to age 25
  • Working for a small employer (under 50 staff)

What it costs you

Nothing. The training cost is paid through the apprenticeship levy (large employer) or government co-investment (small employer). You receive a wage from day one — minimum £6.40/hour at apprentice rate, but typical CPD salaries are £18–22k per year.

Not sure?

Eligibility has edge cases. Visa types, EU pre-settled status, prior funded courses — these can be ambiguous. Best move is just to apply: we run the eligibility check on the call.

Apply and we'll check