What is a Traineeship?

Last updated 25 Jul 2016

What is a Traineeship?

A traineeship is an education and training programme which incorporates work experience, preparing young people for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.

Designed for people aged 16 to 24 who don’t yet have the appropriate skills or experience, traineeships provide the essential work preparation training, English, maths and work experience needed to secure an apprenticeship or employment.

A traineeship has three core elements:

- A high-quality work experience placement with an employer.

- Work preparation training, provided by the training organisation.

- English and maths support, if required, provided by the training organisation.

Traineeships last anything up to a maximum of 6 months with the content tailored to the needs of the business and the individual.

Employers are not required to pay trainees for the work placement and traineeships are exempt from the Minimum Wage. Young people taking part in traineeships will be undertaking education and training and some may qualify for financial support, including the 16-19 Bursary Fund.

The government is encouraging employers to provide trainees with financial support to meet their travel or meal costs, but not all employers will comply.

Traineeships: overview for young people

Traineeships are an ideal opportunity for young people, aged 16 to 24, who are motivated to get a job but lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for.

Those who have been unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship or other position due to a lack of skills and experience are most likely be good candidates for a traineeship.

Traineeship opportunities are advertised regularly on find a traineeship.

Traineeships: overview for employers

The flexibility of traineeships offers employers the opportunity to help build a pool of high quality future recruits for their sector.

To find out more about offering traineeships and the benefits they can bring to a business, contact the National Apprenticeship Service.

The National Apprenticeship Service offers free, impartial advice and support to employers. This includes simplifying the process of finding a trainee through the support of employer focused teams and find a traineeship, where employers can advertise their opportunities for free.

What is a Traineeship?