The short answer
Hours depend on the employer: Aldi's apprenticeships are 30 hours a week and Lidl's IT degree apprenticeship is 40. If you're under 18, the law says you can't work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. At 18 or over, the limit is 48 hours a week on average. Your training counts as part of your paid working hours, not extra.
Key figures
- Maximum working week if you're under 18, and no more than 8 hours a day
- 40 hours
- Source: GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Average weekly limit if you're 18 or over, usually averaged over 17 weeks
- 48 hours
- Source: GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
An apprenticeship is a job, so you’ll have set working hours in your contract. This guide covers what the law says and what hours look like in practice.
The legal limits
| Your age | Limit |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | No more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week |
| 18 or over | No more than 48 hours a week on average, usually averaged over 17 weeks |
At 18 or over you can choose to opt out of the 48-hour limit, but you can’t be forced to. Some jobs, like the armed forces, emergency services and jobs needing 24-hour staffing, have different rules.
Training is part of your hours
Your apprenticeship training happens inside your normal paid working hours, not on top of them. GOV.UK says you’re paid for your normal working hours, your training and any English and maths study that’s part of your apprenticeship. Government guidance also says overtime isn’t counted as normal working hours. Our off-the-job training guide has the details.
What hours look like at real employers
| Employer | Hours |
|---|---|
| Aldi | 30 hours a week on all its apprenticeships |
| Lidl GB | 40-hour week on the IT degree apprenticeship, usually 3 to 4 days in the office |
| Aviva | Usually 3 days in the office and 2 at home |
| easyJet | Full-time night shifts at Luton or Gatwick from month 10 to 24 |
| NIE Networks | Flexibility needed for storms and emergencies, sometimes outside normal hours |
| Tesco | Salary is pro rata, so it depends on your hours |
Part-time apprenticeships
Some apprenticeships are part time. For apprenticeships starting from August 2025, government guidance says training providers no longer have to automatically make part-time apprenticeships longer, but they should make sure the training is realistic for your hours.
Before you accept an offer
Ask:
- How many hours a week is the role?
- Will I work shifts, weekends or nights?
- Is any of it from home?
- When and where does my training happen?
If you think you’re working more than you should be, see our guide to your rights as an apprentice.
Sources and review
Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.
- Maximum weekly working hours (opens in a new tab)
- Become an apprentice: what you'll get (opens in a new tab)
- Apprenticeship off-the-job training guidance (version 6) (opens in a new tab)
- Store Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)
- IT Degree Apprenticeship FAQs (opens in a new tab)
- easyJet Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)
- Apprenticeships (opens in a new tab)