Apprenticeship Training

Duration: 12-24 Months

Cost: £4000 - Age 16 to 19, 

             £3150 - Age 210-24, 

             £2750 - Age 25+   (Paid via Government Funding)

About the course

The basis of the Apprenticeship is SQA Level 5 Maritime Studies: Workboats program which is gained through a combination of classroom courses (20%) and on-the-job training (80%) and topped up through use of the Workboat Associations electronic Training Record Book in which candidates will be required to completed and upload evidence of on-the-job training.

Course content

The Modern Apprenticeship is made up of three elements:

1. Diploma in Maritime Occupations: Workboats SCQF Level 5

2. Core Skills

3. Mandatory Enhancements

Diploma

To achieve the Diploma, apprentices must complete 13 learning units:

• Maritime Employment, Environmental and Health and Safety Practice

• Maritime Sector Overview

• Vessel Ropework, Anchoring and Mooring Operations

• Securing a Vessel for Passage

• Vessel Construction and Stability

• Contribute to Workboat Operations

• Basic Vessel Engineering Systems

• Survival in the Water during Maritime Emergencies

• Vessel Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW)

• Emergency First Aid in Response to Maritime Accidents or Medical Emergencies

• Communicate Using Equipment and Visual Means

• Basic Navigational Watchkeeping

• Control Operation of Survival Craft and Rescue Boats

• MCA Approved Engine Course Part 1

• MCA Approved Engine Course Part 2

• STCW Proficiency in Designated Security Duties

• Slinger and Signaller’s Certificate

• Marine Hydraulic Loader Crane Operators Cert

Core Skills

Everyone needs Core Skills, no matter what job they undertake or what sector they work in. Core Skills feature in various National Qualifications, and Scottish candidates have been issued with a Core Skills profile on their Scottish Qualifications Certificate since 2000.

Core Skills are embedded in the Diploma in Maritime Occupations: Workboats SCQF Level 5.

Candidates who have already been certificated as achieving Core Skills at the required levels – either in the workplace or at school or college – do not need to repeat these Core Skills as part of the Modern Apprenticeship Framework.

Mandatory Enhancements

Each apprentice must pass the following 4 safety courses – which are a statutory obligation – before serving at sea. They are normally taken together, with a security course, in a week’s off-the-job training:

• Personal survival techniques (PST)

• Fire prevention and firefighting

• Elementary first aid

• Personal safety and social responsibilities (PSSR)

Pre-Requisites:

• Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn your chosen trade.

• Dedication and commitment to coursework and the job.

• English and Maths to GCSE (or equivalent) grade C or 4. 

• MCA’s ENG1 medical (employer pays for this after your successful interview).

Why should I become an apprentice?

Enrolling in an Apprenticeship provides an opportunity to receive training and earn qualifications in a field of interest, all while receiving a salary. Individuals aged 16 and above are eligible to apply, and there is no maximum age limit. Whether you're transitioning from school or seeking an alternative route to sixth form, college, or university, Apprenticeships offer a flexible pathway. They are also suitable for employed individuals looking to pivot into a different industry or pursue a new career. 

You will:

• Acquire practical, hands-on experience in an authentic job role.

• Commence training and receive compensation from the outset.

• Develop the appropriate skills in a suitable environment under the guidance of the right employer.

• Our Apprenticeship programs are tailored to the exact requirements of your company and last between 12-24 months.

• Allocate 20% of your Apprenticeship to training and 80% to on-the-job experience, all while being remunerated throughout the entire period.

• Your employer covers the costs of both your training and salary as an apprentice, and grants are available to assist with expenses.

• Maritime Apprenticeships are grounded in practical experience, involving substantial time spent on the water during training. 

About You & Sea

You & Sea is an RYA, SQA & Highfield Approved Training Centre offering a vast array of courses to the small workboat sector in Scotland. We offer training from Powerboat Level 1 up to MCA Master 200gt and regularly run bespoke training packages for individuals and companies. Our main office and classrooms are in Rhu Marina, near Helensburgh, however our team of instructors regularly travel all over Scotland delivering various courses.

We operate with a small, highly experienced team of instructors who we work closely with to ensure the training is provided to the highest standard. The majority of our instructors also work freelance in the Workboat Sector, so come armed with years of hands-on skippering and boat driving experience to back up their instructing skills.

How much will I get paid?

Apprentice salaries are at the discretion of your employer. There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on your age and what year of your Apprenticeship you’re in. 

• Aged 16 to 18: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*

• Aged 19 or over and in their first year: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*

• Aged 19 or over and have completed their first year: Apprentices will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age* 

*Please note that these wages are adjusted by the government each April – https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

You will also be entitled to the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:

• paid holidays

• sick pay

• any benefits your employer offers such as childcare voucher schemes

• any support that your employer offers such as coaching or mentoring

Your contract of employment should make it clear what wage you’ll pay your apprentice and for what hours.

Why employ an apprentice?

The latest Apprenticeships are an exciting option for both apprentice and employer. Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. 

You can adapt their training according to your business needs, motivate them to learn new skills, and expand and upskill your workforce. 

A marine Apprenticeship lasts for between 1 and 2 years. You can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to people who want to further their careers or change career direction. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

As an employer, you are entitled to funding from the government to help pay for 95 – 100% of the training fees. If your company pays into the Apprenticeship Levy, you pay no more contributions. If your company is not a ‘levy payer’, your company pays 5% of the training fee over the Apprenticeship term. The only extra costs are travel and accommodation for the apprentice if required. 

 How does it work?

You employ an apprentice, and we train them. We can assist you in the recruitment process if required. 

Whilst they are working as an apprentice for you, you train them in the job they will eventually be doing, and we train them in the underpinning knowledge and get them certificated. The employer, apprentice and training provider work together and have periodic reviews to ensure that the apprentice stays on track. 

Apprentices come out of the training with an Apprenticeship qualification and other certification relative to their role, such as manual handling, first aid, slinger and signaller, forklift operator. Please refer to the individual Apprenticeship web pages for more information.

What will you pay your apprentice?

You must pay your apprentice for time spent training or studying for their Apprenticeship. There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on their age and what year of their Apprenticeship they’ve completed.  The minimum wage for all apprentices is at least £4.30 per hour moving up to the national minimum wage after a year and if they are over 19 years old.  This is at your discretion and you may choose to pay more. 

• Aged 16 to 18: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*

• Aged 19 or over and in their first year: The 2023 National Minimum Wage rate for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour*

• Aged 19 or over and have completed their first year: Apprentices will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age* 

*Please note that these wages are adjusted by the government each April – https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

Your commitment

Your Apprentices must spend at least 20% of their normal working hours training. You must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:

• Paid holidays

• Sick pay

• Any benefits you offer such as childcare voucher schemes

• Any support you offer such as coaching or mentoring

The contract of employment should make it clear what wage you’ll pay your apprentice and for what hours.

Employers shall also:

• Provide a safe work environment

• Provide an induction that includes explaining relevant policies and procedures

• Give opportunities for the student to develop their technical skills within your industry

• On vessel-based apprenticeships, allow the apprentice to practice navigation and helming. 

• Provide ‘On-the-job’ training and additional support to ensure your apprentice’s success

• Regularly review the apprentice’s progress

• Assist apprentices with completing Training Record Books

• Ensure that apprentices do not have to contribute financially to their training

• Ensure that there is adequate mentoring in the workplace

• Provide a mentor or training officer to whom the apprentice can turn for support

• Ensure the apprentice is paid at least the minimum wage 

List of Frequently Asked Questions, with answers, coming soon.