Your rights as an apprentice

An apprenticeship is a job, and you’re an employee. That means you have the same rights as anyone else at work, plus a few that are specific to apprentices. These are your rights in England.

Your pay

• At least the apprentice minimum wage: £8.00 an hour from April 2026 if you’re under 19 or in your first year. After that, if you’re 19 or over, you get the normal minimum wage for your age.
• Your contract should confirm your rate of pay.
• You must be paid for your normal working hours, your apprenticeship training, and English and maths study if it’s part of your apprenticeship.

Our apprentice pay guide has the full rules.

Training time

At least 20% of your normal working hours should go on training. Government guidance says this training must happen in your normal working hours, and there should be no expectation that you do it in your own time. If training has to happen outside your hours, you must agree to it and get time off in lieu or extra pay.

Holiday

You get at least 20 days’ paid holiday a year, plus bank holidays. That’s the same as the legal minimum of 5.6 weeks for someone working five days a week. Many employers give more.

Sick pay

As an employee, you can get Statutory Sick Pay of up to £123.25 a week if you’re too ill to work, paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. If your employer has its own sick pay scheme you may get more, so check your contract.

Working hours

Your age	Legal limit
Under 18	8 hours a day and 40 hours a week
18 or over	48 hours a week on average (you can choose to opt out)

If you’re disabled

Your employer must make reasonable adjustments so you’re not at a disadvantage, and this applies to apprentices too.

Getting help

If something doesn’t feel right:

1. Talk to your training provider. They’re there to support you, not just teach you.
2. Contact Acas for free, confidential advice on your rights at work.
3. The Apprentice Support Centre has information and advice about apprenticeships.