How many days holiday is an apprentice entitled to?

Apprenticeships can offer a huge number of benefits for both workers and employers. The apprentice is able to train for valuable qualifications, while learning on the job and starting to earn a living. They offer practical, real world experience, alongside the chance to learn essential skills and qualifications.

For the employer, apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity to ‘grow your own’ talent in-house. This means that the organisation can mould the apprentice into their dream employee, which could form a part of a talent pipeline for the future – to help businesses avoid the dreaded ‘skills gap’. Businesses can also benefit from the enthusiasm, new ideas and potentially undiscovered talent of an eager apprentice.

But for apprenticeships to work well for both parties, it’s important for everyone to fully understand their rights and responsibilities. For apprentices, one of the most crucial things to check is the right to a holiday allowance. This should be part of the basic benefits offered to all workers, which means apprentices too.

Your rights to holidays as an apprentice

All apprentices working in the UK are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, the same statutory minimum as any other employee. For someone working a standard five-day week, that works out to 28 days. Whether bank holidays are counted within those 28 days or given on top depends on the contract – there is no automatic legal right to bank holidays off in addition. It’s important to remember that apprentices aren’t based on ‘work experience’ – they should be treated the same as other employees when it comes to rights, responsibilities and privileges. 

The minimum wage for apprentices isn’t as high as for standard full-time workers, which is why benefits such as paid holiday really matter. Holidays and other perks, along with the chance to learn on the job and train for qualifications, can make apprenticeships more attractive – which means more people want to complete them.

To make the situation clear and simple for everyone, employers should outline the terms of the apprenticeship in a training agreement or contract. This will set out entitlement to benefits like holidays, along with any procedures for requesting holidays through a line manager.

On top of holidays, apprentices may work or train on a slightly different pattern to other employees, because time has to be built in for off-the-job learning. Apprentices must spend at least 20% of their normal working hours on work-related training. For a full-time apprentice that’s roughly the equivalent of one day a week.

This training time is a requirement of apprenticeships. It lets an apprentice work towards the qualifications and skills that will further their development and future career prospects, and it makes them a real asset to the business in the future, if they decide to stay on. Importantly, apprentices also continue to build up holiday entitlement during this learning and training time, just as they do during normal working hours.

Is an apprentice entitled to holiday pay?

As discussed, apprentices are just like other employees when it comes to workplace rights and responsibilities – except that they work a slightly shorter week and are studying or training at the same time. This means that they are entitled to holiday pay just like other employees, usually at the same rate as their normal pay.

A full-time apprentice should get a minimum of 28 days’ paid holiday a year (5.6 weeks), although some employers may wish to offer a larger entitlement. Part-time apprentices receive the same 5.6 weeks pro-rated to the days they work. Employers may increase the basic holiday entitlement to offer their workforce a better work/life balance, or to be more flexible when it comes to allowing additional time for training, study or personal development. The exact allowance may also be shaped by the type of scheme – for example, a mortgage advisor apprenticeship or a paraplanner and financial planner apprenticeship.

It’s very important that apprentices understand their rights before starting on a programme, and that employers do all they can to uphold their own responsibilities. Holidays offer a crucial time to rest and balance life with work, and hard-working apprentices need this just as much as other members of the team

Start your apprenticeship journey with Simply Academy

Thinking about taking on an apprentice, or starting an apprenticeship yourself? We’re here to help. As one of the UK’s leading financial services training providers, Simply Academy delivers government-backed apprenticeship programmes in Mortgage Advice, Financial Advice, Paraplanning, Insurance and Financial Services Administration – combining expert-led training with real, on-the-job experience.

Whether you’re an employer looking to grow your own talent or an aspiring professional ready to earn while you learn, our friendly team can talk you through your options, funding and the qualifications on offer. Get in touch with us today or call our team free on 0808 208 0002 to find out how an apprenticeship could work for you.