Apprenticeship glossary
Gross pay
What does Gross pay mean?
Your pay before tax and National Insurance are taken off. Advertised salaries are usually gross.
Related terms
- National Insurance
- A payment taken from your pay if you earn over a set amount, which builds your entitlement to things like the State Pension. Apprentices pay it like other employees.
- Group exercise
- A task you work on with other candidates at an assessment centre. Employers watch how you communicate and work with others, so join in and listen.
- Higher (Scotland)
- The main qualification Scottish pupils take in S5 and S6, at SCQF Level 6. Many employers accept Highers in place of A levels.
- Higher apprenticeship
- Officially, an apprenticeship at Levels 4 to 7 in England. On this site we use 'higher' for Levels 4 and 5, roughly the level of a foundation degree, HNC or HND.
- Higher education
- Study at Level 4 and above, such as foundation degrees, HNDs and university degrees. Higher and degree apprenticeships include higher education study.
- Higher Level Apprenticeship
- Northern Ireland's apprenticeships from Level 4 to Level 7. They let you get qualifications up to Master's level without paying higher education tuition fees.
Definitions are our own plain-English summaries. Where we give figures, they come from the official sources listed on the linked guide or profile. Rules can change, so check the official source before you make decisions.