Overview
Apprenticeships can provide a valuable way to recruit new team members, develop existing staff and build skills within the practice. They offer a structured combination of employment and training, enabling apprentices to gain practical workplace experience while working towards a recognised qualification. For many dental practices, apprenticeships are a well-established route into the profession, particularly for trainee dental nurses.
However, there are a number of additional factors that practices need to consider when engaging team members as apprentices. Apprentices are employees and have many of the same statutory employment rights as other members of staff, but there are also specific legal provisions relating to apprenticeships which can create additional obligations for employers. Understanding the legal status of an apprentice is important, as different types of apprenticeship arrangements can affect the rights of the apprentice.
Practices should also be aware of the requirements relating to apprentice pay, training arrangements and funding. Depending on the circumstances, government funding may be available to help meet training costs, although employers may still have financial responsibilities. In addition, apprenticeships require a commitment to off-the-job training, and practices must ensure that apprentices are provided with sufficient time and support to meet the requirements of their programme.
Many practices use the apprenticeship route for new dental nurses, and it is important to understand how this differs from the more traditional training route. While both routes can lead to qualification and registration, the employment, training and funding arrangements differ.
Our choosing a route to dental nurse qualification: employer considerations advice page contains more information about this.
Practices should also be aware of the additional considerations that can arise when managing performance, conduct issues or ending employment during an apprenticeship. In some circumstances, dismissing an apprentice can be more complex than dismissing another employee and may carry additional risks if handled incorrectly.
This advice outlines the key legal and practical aspects of apprenticeships, including funding, pay, training costs, off-the-job training requirements, opportunities for existing employees, and the considerations involved in disciplinary action and dismissal.
