Employers

Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) are an exciting option for both apprentice and employer. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.

SRC offer FREE advice, guidance, marketing, and direct access to applicants to easily aid businesses to select and recruit HLA’s.

Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. The programme aims to improve business practice by developing a progressively skilled workforce essential for today’s competitive economic climate. Our specialist HLA team will work with you to identify your requirements and guide you through the steps of recruiting the right Apprentice/HLA for your business.

: The higher level apprentice becomes an employee of your company with a contract of employment which is a minimum of 21 hours per week (including directed training day in College).
The directed training in College must be paid as part of the apprentices contracted hours of work i.e. 4 days in work + 1 day in College = 5 days pay.
Study leave paid allowance is at the discretion of the employer (for Level 5 Accountancy – ATI recommends 3 weeks study leave to include 4 exam days per year).
Each employer will draw up and sign a contract of employment with their apprentice in line with their company policies and procedures whilst recognising the apprentice's attendance requirement at College.
HLA course duration is 2/3 years depending on which HLA is being followed.
If your company is offering the opportunity to an existing staff member, the employer must provide evidence to support the transfer into a new role. This will be recorded within the Department for the Economy (DfE) 'Existing Employee Application Form' and will include the current job role and their new job role. An existing employee is someone who has been employed by your company for more than 6 months before the start date of the HLA.
The HLA employer must agree, sign, and date a 'Tripartite Agreement'. This Tripartite Agreement expresses the responsibilities of the employer, the apprentice and the training provider and their commitment to the successful completion of the apprenticeship. This will be issued in September when the programme begins.
Each employer is required to assign an in-house mentor to the apprentice while in the workplace. The appointed mentor is required to provide the appropriate experience to support the apprentice during their programme. (see Mentor Guidance document below)
The HLA apprentice wage should be commensurate with the industry rate for the job and in accordance with the national minimum wage. (HLA Apprentices cannot be paid a level 1-3 apprentice rate of pay).
If you are claiming financial support from any other departmental budget or programme, this funding cannot be used to pay the HLA apprentice wage.
The minimum level of cover for Employers’ Liability Insurance must be in line with the legal requirements under the 'Employers’ Liability (Defective Equipment and Compulsory Insurance) (Northern Ireland) Order 1972'. The minimum level of cover is £5 million.
The HLA programme is subject to audit by the Department for the Economy (DfE) Inspection Team.
Each course will only run subject to viable numbers.
To access the pool of HLA applicants’, employers must complete the 'GDPR Data Sharing Agreement'.
: SRC offer FREE advice, guidance, marketing, and direct access to applicants to easily aid businesses to select and recruit HLA’s.

Employing a HLA can help your company to grow a new talent pipeline of motivated, skilled, qualified, and professional staff.
HLAs allow your company to upskill existing staff and promote internally.
HLA’s offers work-based routes to Foundation degrees and Batchelors degrees in professions that have traditionally been the preserve of graduates.
SRC provide you with access to a talent pool of HLA Applicants. All selection and recruitment is controlled by the employer, giving you the ability to enhance entry criteria.
There is opportunity for employers to take part industry engagement activities to ensure academic content remains relevant.
Tuition and registration costs are covered by the Department for the Economy.
: If a company is offering the Higher Level Apprenticeship opportunity to an existing staff member, the employer must provide evidence to support the transfer into a new job role. The Department for the Economy requires each employer to complete an ‘Existing Employee Application Form’ which will include the current job role and the new job role. An existing employee is someone who has been employed by a company for more than six months before the start date of the apprenticeship.
: Southern Regional College offers a free apprenticeship recruitment service to employers. Registered employers will access the HLA Portal to view applicants.

Timeline

November – August: SRC will seek employer vacancies for September recruitment.
SRC will assess employer eligibility and ensure mentor suitability to facilitate an apprentice in the workplace. Find out more.
Employers will complete a ‘Data Sharing Agreement’ to access the HLA portal.
SRC will grant access to the HLA portal.
Employer undertakes their own recruitment and selection process and makes a job offer/s. SRC are not involved in the shortlisting or interview process.
Once Employer has selected successful applicant, they advise both applicant and SRC via HLA portal. If an applicant receives multiple job offers, SRC will only allow one job offer to be held. Please note, in the case of an HLA programme becoming oversubscribed, places are allocated based on the date of the employer job offer submission.
August: On A-Level results day, all HLA applicants will upload their exam results to the HLA portal.
SRC will confirm if the applicant has been successful in securing a place on their chosen HLA programme. In the event that the chosen applicant has not met the academic criteria, SRC will advise the employer.
Employer draws up the Contract of Employment.

After the release of A-Level results, SRC will continue to share EAI forms with employers who are still recruiting. At this stage only applicants who have met academic criteria will have EAI forms shared. Employers should follow the steps above and complete the recruitment process by the first week in September. All HLA courses commence on the second week of September.

Note to Employers

Over the past number of years, the level of interest in HLAs by both employers and students has grown exponentially. We would therefore advise that employers selection and recruitment activities be carried out as promptly as possible.
Selecting a reserve candidate is also advisable.
SRC will provide an opportunity for employers to advertise their HLA vacancies on the SRC website.
: The Data Sharing Agreement for 2024-25 can be accessed here.
: Complete our simple form to start your journey as a Higher Level Apprenticeship Employer.