Frequently asked questions

Our apprenticeship programmes cost the following per learner.

However, if your applicants demonstrate prior learning or experience, this would be considered in calculating the price.

You may also be eligible for funding via the Apprenticeship Levy, DfE and CITB grants to significantly reduce your investment.

Since April 2021, all apprenticeships in England must be registered and managed via the online ‘Apprenticeships Portal’ (sometimes still referred to as the Digital Apprenticeship Service). For more information on registering your company to use the portal, follow the guide provided by the Government here. We are happy to help you if you are setting this up for the first time.

We recruit all year round, not just in September. Contact us to find out when our next cohort spaces will be available for the apprenticeship you're interested in.

Please contact us in the first instance so that we can discuss your needs. Once we have received an application form signed by both the learner and employer, we will allocate the learner a provisional place on our waiting list. Cohorts are filled on a first come first served basis, driven by the date we receive completed application forms. Once received we will begin our onboarding process which includes an initial assessment interview and online maths and English check. If your learner is eligible and suitable,  the learner’s place on a cohort is confirmed and both of you will be notified of the next steps.

See our apprenticeship funding guide or contact CITB for more information on claiming travel, attendance and completion grants. Potentially, CITB eligible companies can claim up to £2,500 a year, plus £3,500 for apprentices who fully complete the course.

Any learner who does not have the equivalent qualifications can be funded as part of an apprenticeship programme to complete Functional Skills up to level 2. Funding for these courses is paid to the training provider by the Department for Education and is not paid by Apprenticeship Levy or co-investment levy payments from their employer. Any travel or accommodation to attend exams or training sessions required would be the responsibility of the employer, with some costs recoupable via CITBs travel to train grant scheme.

An accelerated apprenticeship is a condensed training programme designed to help apprentices become site-ready faster than traditional routes. At NHBC, our apprenticeships can be completed in as little as 14 to 18 months, compared to the typical 24 to 30 months, without compromising on quality. This means your apprentices can return to site sooner, equipped with practical skills and a solid understanding of industry standards, adding value to your workforce more quickly.

Our accelerated apprenticeship programme is designed to get trade apprentices site-ready faster by front-loading their training at one of our purpose-built training hubs.

Instead of attending college one day a week, apprentices complete intensive periods of training, learning core skills and health and safety in focused bursts. For example, three weeks at an NHBC training hub are equivalent to around 15 weeks in a traditional college setting with a one-day-a-week release.

This approach means apprentices return to site quicker, better prepared and able to contribute from day one.

Our Construction Site Supervisor apprentices attend online sessions and complete work-based learning over a significantly reduced timeline.

We do not cover the cost or provide accommodation or travel. However if you would like to place students from further afield with us, this is fine and there is funding support available via CITB’s ‘Travel to train’ scheme. There are several hotels and good local transport links to enable apprentices to get to us easily during their training at one of our hubs.

There are no age restrictions for apprenticeships but the course should always provide new knowledge, skills or experience – to justify enrolling experienced staff there must be a demonstrable benefit to their role to do so. Our onboarding process includes a pre-induction interview and evidence gathering stage and we will discuss with you any recommendations we have for prospective candidates on a case-by-case basis. If appropriate, we may offer alternative options to an apprenticeship such as an NVQ.

Potentially, depending on the degree and other factors. Construction management related qualifications from HNC, HND to Foundation Degree and full BSc programmes have too much overlap with the programme we deliver and funding could not be justified as ‘new learning’. For other subjects, such as building surveying, engineering and architecture, there may be crossover that might reduce the price or learning required; but the candidate could still participate and complete the apprenticeship. Speak to us about your candidates and we will work with you to find the most appropriate route for them.

Each candidate and their employer will receive a plan of training and commitment statement, detailing the course anticipated end dates. They will also receive an email with all delivery dates to plan training or holiday commitments. Any end date is also subject to the learner completing the programme as directed and could be extended if required for individual circumstances.

Level 2 Bricklaying

Bricklayer Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard.

Level 2 Groundworking

Groundworker Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard.

Level 2 Site Carpentry

Site Carpentry Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard.

Level 3 Bricklaying

Bricklaying Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard.

Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor

Higher Technical Apprenticeship Site Supervisor and Level 4 NVQ Site Supervision (Residential Pathway).

There are self study and consolidation weeks built into the programme at various points. NHBC apprenticeships do not have a formal term as such, providing more flexibility for employers. We do however have a longer break with no delivery at Christmas and again at Easter. We also have three weeks of no delivery in June as this coincides with most, but not all builders' year end busy periods.

Learners should notify us of pre-booked annual leave in advance and notify us of any sickness, bereavement, special leave, parental leave etc. Covering site should never be an acceptable reason for non attendance.

Each session is mandatory to attend – failure to attend will result in missed hours from the training plan and therefore a potential deficit of off-the-job hours required to complete the course. Any missed sessions must be scheduled to be repeated at a later date. Consistent failure to attend training to cover site activities has a proven impact to learners' ability to complete assignments.