LPC 2008 Survey of Employers

Apprentice Exemptions

This is a qualitative study of a small sample of employers to explore in detail their perspectives on apprenticeships.

The report gathers views on issues such as: reasons for participation, current pay practices, the impact of the National Minimum Wage exemptions on employing apprentices, and likely impacts of various changes to the exemptions.

The study found that:

• Good apprentices were perceived as valuable assets and that there was broad satisfaction with their performance, especially in their third or final years.
• A mixed model of training provision was prevalent – typically on-the-job, which was perceived to be of great importance, with limited release for off-the-job training with external providers.
• A small number of employers were critical of those with college-only training.
• There was diversity in apprentice pay and the influences on pay levels included: current rates for other employees; rates in the local labour market for apprentice and non-apprentice positions; the need to attract and retain good quality apprentices; the importance of rewarding performance; and the cost of living.
• The use of apprentice exemptions was widespread but that there were mixed views on proposed changes to these exemptions.