Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland

This information is for deaf young people and families of deaf children in Northern Ireland. Read our information for England and Scotland.

There are a wide variety of choices for post-16 education. Apprenticeships can be a good option if you know which job you want to do. 

An apprenticeship is a way of training on-the-job, while studying at college or university. Apprentices are paid for their work. There are apprenticeships available in all sorts of fields, like engineering, law, construction, business, beauty and childcare. 

What are apprenticeships

Apprenticeships can be an opportunity to gain structured work experience alongside studying for qualifications. Time is usually split between the workplace to learn key skills ‘on the job’ and going to college or university to study for the qualification.

Apprentices are employed by an organisation or company. They will be entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage (NI Direct). The National Minimum Wage for apprentices depends on your age and the level of your apprenticeship.

For more advice about being paid as an apprentice, contact Advice NI.

Apprenticeships provide the opportunity to develop maths, literacy and ICT skills further. These skills can be useful for getting a job in the future. Gaining experience in the workplace also helps develop transferable skills. For example, teamwork, problem-solving or customer service.

Supported internships

Supported internships are structured study programmes based mainly at the workplace. They’re aimed at young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to help them learn the skills they need for employment.

Areas you can do apprenticeships in

Many modern industries provide apprenticeships, such as engineering, beauty therapy and design.

Find out about the apprenticeship training contractors (NI Direct) in Northern Ireland.

Unfortunately, there are some employers who will advertise fake apprenticeships. All About School Leavers is an organisation that helps school leavers enter the workplace. Read their tips on how to spot a fake apprenticeship (All About School Leavers).

Finding an apprenticeship

There are 4 different types of apprenticeship with different levels of study. They have different entry requirements and take different lengths of time to complete.

Applying for an apprenticeship

Applying for an apprenticeship is similar to applying for a job. New vacancies can be made available at any time of year.

You can find and apply for apprenticeships through NI Direct and sites like Job Apply NI. Apprenticeships are also listed on regular job search websites.

Many colleges allow you to apply for apprenticeships through them. They may be able to provide support for applicants to find the right apprenticeship. Check the websites of colleges or contact them for a better understanding of what they offer.

Statement of special educational needs (SEN)

A statement of SEN is a legal document. A statement of SEN sets out someone’s special educational needs (SEN). They also outline the support they need in education. Find out more about SEN and deaf young people’s rights in education.

Deaf young people with statements of SEN must have transition planning in place. This is still the case when they are moving to post-16 education or employment. Transition planning includes support from professionals, such as a:

• Teacher of the Deaf (ToD)
• learning support co-ordinator (LSC), which used to be known as a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo)
• careers adviser

These professionals may be able to help with the application process. Once an apprenticeship is secured, they can advise employers and apprenticeship providers.

Entry requirements

Like college or university, apprenticeships often have entry requirements. These may include GCSE or A-level grades, literacy and numeracy tests, or interview processes. 

Some deaf young people may find it hard to meet these requirements because of their deafness. However, apprenticeship providers and employers must be flexible when assessing deaf applicants. Under the equality laws in place in Northern Ireland, deafness meets the legal definition of disability. This means that providers must allow deaf applicants to show they can succeed in other ways.

Read about the laws in place that protect disabled people’s rights.

Apprenticeship providers and employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’. Reasonable adjustments are small and inexpensive changes providers and employers can make. These changes will help deaf applicants to fully access the application process. Reasonable adjustments may include extra time in tests or communication support in interviews. Deaf applicants can use Access to Work to pay for communication support at interviews.

In some cases, adjustments to course requirements are not appropriate. This will be the case when a course has a strict ‘competence standard’, such as applying to an engineering apprenticeship. Engineering requires a specified ability in maths, which counts as a competence standard. They should be flexible in the way they allow applicants to prove their ability in maths. However, they wouldn’t be expected to lower this requirement.

Telling a provider or employer about your deafness

Some deaf young people may not want to tell a college or employer about their deafness. It is an individual choice. However, it can be helpful to be as open and upfront as possible. Especially if support might be required to fully access an apprenticeship. 

It’s illegal for apprenticeship providers or employers to discriminate against a young person because they are deaf.

Support during an apprenticeship

The law states that apprenticeship providers and employers must make reasonable adjustments. This is so disabled apprentices are not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled apprentices. Most types of hearing loss and level of deafness meet the legal definition of disability. 

Reasonable adjustments are small and inexpensive changes employers and education provider make. Reasonable adjustments for an apprenticeship may include:

• technology and equipment such as radio aids
• support from a ToD
• note-takers/palantypists
• British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters
• lipspeakers
• changes to buildings or rooms to improve acoustics
• training for staff in deaf awareness

Education providers and employers are equally responsible for making reasonable adjustments. They must make sure a deaf apprentice can access their apprenticeship fully. 

There’s no justification for not making a reasonable adjustment. However, in some cases a provider may be able to argue that what is being of asked of them is not reasonable.

Employer

Apprentices are also employed. This means that employers can use Access to Work (GOV.UK) funding to make adjustments.

End point assessments

Apprentices must take a series of tests to complete their apprenticeships. These are end point assessments and take place in assessment centres. Centres must make reasonable adjustments to make tests accessible for deaf apprentices. 

Adjustments to assessments can include:

• making sure verbal tests take place in a quiet room
• providing communication support if required
• extra time for written tests if a deaf young person needs longer to process written information

If a provider or employer fails to make a reasonable adjustment

If an apprenticeship provider or employer fails to make a reasonable adjustment, there are steps you can take.

Try to talk through any problems with the provider or employer first. This will vary depending on the apprenticeship, but if in doubt talk to the course leader or lecturer. Problems with support may be resolved by looking for a solution with the provider. Try to keep a record of what is said and agreed in meetings.

Make a complaint

If this approach does not work, there are other options to make a further complaint. Make initial complaints to the Apprenticeships programme in Northern Ireland (NI Direct), run by the Department for the Economy. 

Take legal action

If these complaints processes have not worked, you can take your case to a county court.

If you want to escalate a complaint, it’s a good idea to seek legal advice. Contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) or a solicitor. You may be eligible for legal aid (Department of Justice). 

As an apprentice is also an employee, there is the option to take the employer to an Employment Tribunal.

Useful resources

• Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland (UCAS)
• Information on apprenticeships (nidirect)
• Contact details for the Apprenticeships Programme in Northern Ireland (nidirect)
• Introduction to trade unions (nidirect)