Apprenticeship agreement template

There are lots of formalities to consider when hiring a new apprentice to join your team. One of these is creating, agreeing and signing an apprenticeship agreement.

In this guide, we'll explore what an apprenticeship agreement is, what it covers, and how to automate them in Juro. Get started today by downloading our free apprenticeship agreement template.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a structured training program that combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction to prepare individuals for a specific trade or profession.

Apprentices work under the guidance of experienced mentors, gaining practical skills and knowledge while still earning a wage.

They're increasingly common in practical industries like construction and manufacturing, but there's an increasing trend across the globe whereby apprenticeships are offered for corporate roles, too.

In fact, data from Apprenticeship.gov suggests that the number of apprentices in the US has jumped from 359,788 to 679,960 in the last nine years.

UK apprenticeship data tells a similar story, with steady increase in apprenticeship starts in 2024.

What is an apprenticeship agreement?

An apprenticeship agreement is a legally binding contract between an apprentice and an employer, detailing the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

Just like an employment contract, an apprenticeship agreement defines the scope of the apprentice's role, the training they will receive, and the employer's expectations, among other things.

Why are apprenticeship agreements important?

Getting the apprenticeship agreement form right is crucial for a successful apprenticeship experience. It not only clarifies the obligations of both parties but also sets clear expectations.

Here are three reasons why your business needs a clear, concise and well-structured apprenticeship agreement.

1. Legally required

In many jurisdictions, apprenticeship agreements are a legal requirement. They provide the basis for any legal disputes that may arise between the apprentice and the employer.

2. Define responsibilities

The agreement sets out the expectations for both the apprentice and the employer. It defines the work the apprentice does, their training and how their progress will be monitored and evaluated.

3. Set clear expectations

A well-crafted apprenticeship agreement ensures that both parties know what to expect from each other. This prevents misunderstandings and ensure a smoother, more productive working relationship.

How is an apprenticeship contract different to a general employment contract?

There are a few key differences between an apprenticeship agreement and a broader, general employment contract. You should be aware of these before creating or signing one:

• Purpose: Apprenticeship contracts focus on combining work with structured training to gain skills and qualifications, while standard employment contracts focus solely on job responsibilities and compensation.
• Training: Apprenticeships include a formal training plan, often linked to educational institutions, whereas standard contracts may provide informal or optional training without a certification goal.
• Legal and duration differences: Apprenticeships are governed by specific laws with fixed terms tied to training completion, while standard contracts follow general labor laws and can be permanent or temporary.
• Wages: Apprentices typically earn lower wages due to the training focus, whereas standard contracts offer market-rate pay for the job.
• Certification: Apprenticeships lead to recognized qualifications upon completion, while standard employment contracts do not always have an educational or certification component.

Who manages apprenticeship agreements?

Usually, the talent team (HR team) will be responsible for creating and managing apprenticeship agreements. However, they may occasionally need legal teams to review the contract's terms, especially if these vary following negotiations.

What should an apprenticeship agreement template cover?

Apprenticeship agreement templates will vary depending on the nature of work the apprentice will be undertaking. However, most apprenticeship agreements will cover the following elements:

1. Scope of work

The agreement should clearly define the role of the apprentice, the type of work they will be expected to perform and the results they should achieve.

2. Training and development

The agreement should outline the training the apprentice will receive, including who will provide it, the duration, and any qualifications or certifications that may result from the training.

3. Working hours and leave entitlement

Working hours and leave entitlements must also be included. This section should explain the apprentice’s working hours, rest breaks, and holiday allowances, ensuring that their rights are protected and that the agreement complies with labor laws.

4. Safeguarding policies

Policies and procedures, such as workplace rules, health and safety standards, and codes of conduct, should also be outlined in an apprenticeship contract to provide clarity on what is expected in the workplace.

5. Salary and payment terms

Wages or payment details are another critical element of the agreement. These should outline how much the apprentice will be paid and how often, ensuring fair compensation and transparency from the outset.

6. Monitoring and evaluation

The apprenticeship agreement template should detail how the apprentice's performance will be assessed and monitored, including details about regular check-ins, progress reports, and feedback sessions. This helps to provide clarity on what good performance is and how to maintain those standards.

What is the process traditionally used to manage apprenticeship agreements?

Managing apprenticeship agreements can become a drag for legal and HR teams with no automation or templates in place. This is particularly true for those organisations that hire apprentices at scale in seasonal sprints.

Businesses that hire and onboard apprentices at scale will need to draft and populate contracts one by one, manually inputting all of the apprentice's data.

This manual nature of this process can result in wasted time, miscommunication, and a lengthy time-to-hire.

Why is an apprenticeship agreement template important?

The process of issuing and signing apprenticeship contracts to new joiners becomes much more manageable with a comprehensive apprenticeship agreement template to hand. It's even faster and more efficient if you host this apprenticeship agreement template in Juro.

Instead of creating contracts from the ground up, businesses can store their apprenticeship agreement templates in Juro's AI-enabled contract management tool, enabling them to generate apprenticeship agreements 10x faster than with traditional tools.

When HR teams have apprenticeship agreements set up as automated templates in Juro, they can streamline these contracts.

Teams initiate a contract from the pre-approved template, these templates are then automatically filled using a straightforward Q&A workflow. Templates can also be filled by pulling contract data from an applicant tracking system (ATS) like Greenhouse and BambooHR.

Juro's bulk actions even enable HR teams to generate, send and sign apprenticeship agreements at scale.

Juro is the ideal solution for fast-growing companies that hire candidates in bulk and need to self-serve on contracts with confidence.

Automate apprenticeship agreements in Juro

Juro's flexible contract management platform can be used to safely automate up to 75% of contract admin tasks. This makes creating and managing apprenticeship agreements a breeze for HR teams.

To find out more about Juro's rich feature set and how it can enable your business to reduce time-to-hire, hit the button below.

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