Guidance Notes for Employers
At The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) we know that recruiting the right staff and ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to do the job is of paramount importance. We can help you find out about current work-based greenkeeper training programmes.
Key benefits
- Development of a well-trained, motivated workforce
- Increased productivity through better trained staff
- Improved company performance
- It also demonstrates your commitment to staff development.
Benefits to the Club:
The benefits of apprenticeships are becoming increasingly obvious to more and more Golf Clubs. It is a fact that apprenticeships develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Businesses that offer apprenticeships view them as beneficial to their long-term development. The GTC have produced a handy guide 'Golf Greenkeeper Scheme Guidance' which can be downloaded. This guide looks at funding, the employer's key roles and responsibilities and also the apprentice's key roles and responsibilities.
Current Wage Rates
These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage. The rates change every April.
| Rate from April 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage | £9.50 | |
| 21-22 Year Old Rate | £9.18 | |
| 18-20 Year Old Rate | £6.83 | |
| 16-17 Year Old Rate | £4.81 | |
| Apprentice Rate | £4.81 | |
| Accommodation Offset | £8.70 |
Employers are free to pay above the new wage and many do so, but employers must ensure that they are paying their apprentices at least the minimum wage.
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
- aged under 19
- aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Information regarding the funding changes for apprentices can be found on the:
- Trailbazer Apprenticeship funding page
- Use our UK Apprenticeship Guide to discover how funding works where you live in the UK.
To Read more about current wage rates visit Gov.UK
What does 'Apprenticeship Off-The-Job Training' mean?
Apprenticeships last for a minimum of 12 months and involve at least 20% of the apprentice's normal working hours (capped at 30 hours a week for funding purposes only) must be off-the-job training. For a full-time apprentice, this is an average of 6 hours per week. This can be spread through the week and does have to be a day off each week. It can include job shadowing, attending industry events, attending competitions, writing up assessments and assignments in a quiet space within the Golf Club or online learning about machinery or manufacturers guidelines. Find out more about the off-the-job rule here.
Off-the-job training Myth v Fact
Off-the-job training infographic
Looking to employ an Apprentice?
- Read more information from the government abut 'Employing an apprentice' and use the Gov.uk 'Find an appenticeship' page to view how apprenticeships are advertised.
- Different types of appenticeships are available in the UK depending on where you live. Use our UK Apprenticeship Guide to find useful links to relevant organisations for each of the home nations, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You may also want to visit the apprenticeships.Gov.uk website for the latest updates.
- Go to the GTC Approved Training Providers to find a provider close to you. Visit their website where they will have more information about recruiting an apprentice. Some training providers advertise vacancies too. You can advertise to recruit an apprentice on line and and through Job Centre Plus, also contact golfing organisations for potential recruits.
- How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer - Gov.uk or phone 0800 015 0600
- Download 19: Employers guide to apprenticeships by the National Apprenticeship Service.
