WorkPlus

The Software For All programme is open to all employers that can provide apprenticeship roles in the following areas:

• Financial Technology

• Software Development/Engineering

• Cybersecurity & Network Infrastructure

• Relatable computing roles

An apprenticeship is a job with training built–in. It’s a great way to develop new talent. Through on–the–job and off–the–job learning, an apprentice is considered a full–time employee and earns a good wage, whilst avoiding student debt (government pays their student fees).

Typically apprentices attend college or university one day per week but the Government covers the cost of the education. During the course of an apprenticeship, there will be work–based learning modules to be completed, including a project and reports. Employers will need to work closely with the college and university assessors to help the apprentice with this work, with mentors giving time and support to facilitate success. At the discretion of the employer, apprentices may be working towards a professional qualification. This will often require mentoring, so employers should ensure that they discuss with the relevant professional body.

• Belfast Metropolitan College

• CAFRE

• North West Regional College

• Northern Regional College

• Private Training Providers (e.g. 21 Training, People 1st)

• Queen’s University

• South Eastern Regional College

• South West Regional College

• Southern Regional College

• Ulster University

The Training Provider, employer, and apprentice must agree, sign, and date a personal training plan in respect of the apprentice. Individual courses have specific training plan requirements too.

Workplace Mentor

All apprentices must be assigned a dedicated mentor by their employing company. Mentors need to be carefully chosen and have particular skills for dealing with apprentices, whose concerns may extend beyond those typically presented in the workplace by more experienced employees. They should be an experienced and trusted advisor to the apprentice. 

Feedback from existing apprenticeship schemes suggests that a mentor with a professional qualification (or close to qualifying) is advisable. They can assist the apprentice with demonstrating their academic and professional qualification abilities and experience.

There are some guidelines for organisations who want to take on an apprentice(s):

• The apprentice must be employed for over 50% of their time in NI and be completing their directed training in NI with an approved local Training Contractor.

• If your organisation is in the Public sector, you should be eligible to employ an apprentice as long as the apprentice’s salary is not derived from public funds.

Watch these short clips from some of the employers we’re working with on our YouTube Channel.

Workplus has a fixed apprenticeship application campaign timeframe which makes it easier for you and aspiring apprentices to find each other. Think of Workplus like a floodlight, made up of individual lights from all the employers we work with – when we turn it on…

By joining Workplus, you can be a part of the two hiring campaigns (when applications are open for applicants) each year:

• January – March

• August – September (shorter, clearing–like campaign) 

Government pays your apprentices student fees (if they are eligible). It is the employer’s responsibility to pay the apprentice wage. Apprentices are paid a full time salary to cover their on–the–job and off–the–job work. 

The following are the Employer Class 1 National Insurance Contributions rates for 2025–26:

• Apprentices aged 16–24 (Class H) rated at 0% when earning less than £4,189 per month

• Apprentices aged 25+ (Class A) rated as regular employee (15.05%)

No, organisations involved in the Software For All programme will receive support and the Workplus recruitment service at zero cost.

We start with your organisation's needs and the jobs you need done. We'll help you connect with the right apprenticeships, learning providers and also run application campaign which reach a diverse audience of talent.

You'll find it easy to search our talent pool and match with apprentices that want to work for you!

In short…it doesn’t! All businesses across the UK with a payroll >£3m pay 0.5% of their total wage bill (minus an apprenticeship levy allowance of £15,000) as an Apprenticeship Levy. In England, employers are able to re–coup funds collected through the levy to pay the training provider for their apprentice’s training costs. In Northern Ireland, there is no direct correlation between the levy raised from employers and the funding allocation for apprenticeships. Government covers the apprentice training costs and pays the training provider directly. So, in summary, whether you pay the Levy or not, you are eligible to employ apprentices in NI and there is no link to the Levy amount you’ve paid to Government. 

Workplus was established in 2019 to help employers and apprentices connect. Since that time, we have grown a community of employers in construction, IT, finance, manufacturing and engineering and created a B2B2C marketplace which allows employers to indicate demand and aspiring apprentices to apply. Since 2019 we have helped 100 employers connect with 400+ apprentices.

Applicants apply to most apprenticeship training courses (off–the–job learning) through the training provider’s own website (to the part–time or HLA course). Make sure that you apply to both the training provider and to the employer (on–the–job learning).

To be an apprentice, you must have:

• a job position (on–the–job learning); and

• a place on the training provider’s course (off–the–job learning).

You can apply for the apprenticeship job through Workplus (during the Workplus application campaigns – see website for dates and deadlines) and you must also apply separately to the specific training course, usually through the training provider’s own website. We recommend doing both of these applications in parallel (i.e. around January/February time), unless you are applying to Ulster University (only apply to their apprenticeship courses once you have a job offer). It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply to and get a place on the training course.

Currently, apprenticeships at every level in Northern Ireland are funded by the government for all ages.

If you have (or are currently working towards) GCSE or equivalent qualifications, Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeships are best–suited.

If you have (or are currently working towards) A–level or equivalent qualifications, Level 5 (Foundation degree) or Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree) apprenticeships are a good fit.

Usually it’s the training provider that sets the entry requirements – check their website for specific entry requirements and eligibility checks.

Working and learning at the same time makes sense. Reading textbooks of information isn’t the best way for most people to learn. Putting our learning into practice helps us grow and develop. Apprentices are earning a good salary and gaining a qualification at the same time, without the student debt.

A Workplus apprentice, Emma, once told us: “I don’t feel like I’m missing out on going to university full–time, the experience means more at the end of the day”.

Full–time student life is hard – going to only a few hours of lectures each week, sleeping in, motivating yourself to go to the library, trying not to procrastinate and working a part–time job. It lacks structure and routine, and comes with many challenges. As an apprentice, you are motivated to learn while experiencing the workplace reality. You’re able to get up at the same time each day, have a good routine, make an impact at work, and then you’re ready to switch–off at the weekends. As another apprentice, Gina, said: “It’s set me up for life.”

• Draft your answers on a Google Doc. Jot down all your thoughts and as you keep reading over them, condense your answers to be what’s most impressive!

• Ask for help and advice – talk through your application with a parent, teacher, friend or Careers adviser. Someone who knows you well will be able to help you think through your top skills and achievements. You won’t want to miss anything!

• Remember that employers are reading your application – they want to find talent. Show your passion and interest for the apprenticeship that you are applying to.

• Check over your answers – read over your application yourself, and get someone else to read over your application. Look out for typos, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

An apprenticeship is a permanent job!

We’ve found that 95% of apprentices stick with the company they’re working in after their apprenticeship, and they’ve already had years of experience.