Apprenticeship glossary

Right to work

What does Right to work mean?

Being legally allowed to work in the UK. Many employers say they can't sponsor visas for apprentices, so you need the right to work for the whole apprenticeship.

Apprentice
Someone doing an apprenticeship: an employee who is paid to work and train towards a recognised qualification at the same time.
Apprenticeship
A real, paid job where you also train towards a recognised qualification. In England at least 20% of your normal working hours are spent training, and you don't pay tuition fees.
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
The basic level of security check for working on some UK government or defence work, covering identity, right to work and employment history.
Right to work check
The check employers must make that you're legally allowed to work in the UK, usually by seeing your passport or immigration status, before you start.
Rotation
Moving between different teams or departments during your apprenticeship to get wider experience. Williams and Sky both run rotational programmes.
Salary
Your pay for a year, before tax. Apprentices are paid a salary or an hourly rate, and many employers publish starting salaries.

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.