Apprenticeship glossary

National Insurance

What does National Insurance mean?

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.

Apprentice
Someone doing an apprenticeship: an employee who is paid to work and train towards a recognised qualification at the same time.
Gross pay
Your pay before tax and National Insurance are taken off. Advertised salaries are usually gross.
Net pay
Your take-home pay after tax, National Insurance and anything else, like pension contributions, has been taken off.
National Living Wage
The minimum wage for people aged 21 and over: £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026. Apprentices move onto their age's minimum rate once they're 19 or over and past their first year.
National Security Vetting
Security clearance some defence employers need. BAE Systems says it usually means 5 to 10 years of living in the UK without a break.
NCTJ Diploma
The National Council for the Training of Journalists' diploma, a widely recognised journalism qualification. Sky's Level 5 journalism apprenticeship includes it.

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.