The short version
- Existing employees can do an apprenticeship. There's no upper age limit.
- The rule: they must be learning significant new skills, not getting a certificate for what they already do.
- Non-levy employers pay £0 for under-25s and 5% for 25+. Levy payers use their levy.
- Their pay and job stay the same. Minimum length is 8 months.
- Adults 19+ no longer need English and maths qualifications to pass.
Yes, you can
Apprenticeships aren't just for school leavers. Anyone employed in England, aged 16 or over, can start one. That includes your office manager who's been with you eight years, and your 45-year-old team lead.
They stay in their job. Same contract. Same pay. They just get structured, funded training and a nationally recognised qualification at the end.
The rules that matter
- New skills. The apprenticeship must teach them a substantial amount they don't already know. Your provider checks this at the start with a skills scan, and takes off anything they already know. You can't use one to certificate existing skills.
- Real job. They need a contract with you and enough work to practise what they learn.
- Time to train. They get paid time for off-the-job training during working hours, set out in a training plan.
- At least 8 months. From August 2025 the minimum length is 8 months. Most take 12 to 18.
- English and maths. From 2025, apprentices aged 19 and over no longer need English and maths qualifications to complete.
The full detail is in the apprenticeship funding rules on GOV.UK.
What it costs
| Employee 16 to 24 | Employee 25+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-levy employer | £0 | 5% of the funding band |
| Levy payer | From your levy | From your levy, then 25% |
For a 30-year-old on the Level 4 AI & Automation Practitioner apprenticeship (£18,000 band), a small employer pays £900 in total. That's for 15 to 18 months of training.
One thing you won't get: the £2,000 hiring payment. That's for new hires who joined you within 90 days of starting. If you're hiring as well, see the full cost of hiring an apprentice.
Which apprenticeships suit existing staff?
Pick the gap, then the programme. These are the ones we see work best for people already in a role:
| If they need to… | Apprenticeship |
|---|---|
| Cut admin and put AI tools in safely | AI & Automation Practitioner, Level 4 |
| Run the office properly | Business Administrator, Level 3 |
| Own your marketing | Multi-channel Marketer, Level 3 |
| Make your content | Content Creator, Level 3 |
| Look after IT and devices | Digital Support Technician, Level 3 |
| Handle customers better | Customer Service Practitioner, Level 2 |
Training managers? Some management standards lost funding for new starts from September 2026, including Team Leader (Level 3) and Operations Manager (Level 5). Short apprenticeship units, including AI leadership, are now an option for staff aged 19 and over. Our levy guide explains them.
In care, the AI apprenticeship for care providers suits deputy managers, senior carers and administrators who are drowning in paperwork.
How to set it up in six steps
- Name the problem. "Our admin takes too long" or "nobody owns marketing" is enough to start.
- Pick the person. Usually the organised one who's already doing half of it.
- Choose a provider. Search GOV.UK's Find apprenticeship training service, or talk to us.
- Skills scan. The provider checks what they already know and sets the length and content.
- Sign the paperwork. An apprenticeship agreement and a training plan. Your provider drafts both.
- Reserve funding and start. Set up an apprenticeship service account, approve the funding, and they start with the next group.
Got someone in mind? Our next AI apprenticeship group starts Monday 2 November. Check your route →
How to raise it with the employee
Keep it simple. "We want to invest in you. It's funded, it's a real qualification, and you'll do it alongside your job." Most people say yes. If someone on your team has already asked you about it, our guide for employees is what they've been reading.
Quick answers
Can existing employees do an apprenticeship?
Yes. Anyone employed in England aged 16 or over can do an apprenticeship, including existing staff, as long as the apprenticeship teaches them significant new skills. There's no upper age limit.
How much does it cost to put an existing employee on an apprenticeship?
For employers that don't pay the levy, training is free for employees aged 16 to 24 and 5% of the funding band for those 25 and over. On the £18,000 Level 4 AI apprenticeship that's £900. Levy payers use their levy funds.
Does an existing employee's pay change during an apprenticeship?
No. They keep their existing contract and pay. The apprentice minimum wage only sets a floor. It doesn't reduce what you already pay them.
Can someone over 25 do an apprenticeship?
Yes. There's no upper age limit. Non-levy employers pay 5% of the training cost for apprentices aged 25 and over.
Can you get the £2,000 payment for an existing employee?
Only if they're aged 16 to 24 and joined you no more than 90 days before their apprenticeship training starts, and you don't pay the levy. Longer-serving staff don't qualify.
Keep reading
Last updated . Funding rules are for England and can change. We check them against GOV.UK before every update. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.