Getting an employee by training an apprentice

In an apprenticeship, you can train an employee directly for the required duties. It is a good option if your company needs new workforce for work that does not require a lot of prior learning. You can also use apprenticeships to train your own employees for tasks that require further training or for entirely new jobs.

Apprenticeship training is based on a fixed-term contract that usually lasts at least four months. There must be at least 25 weekly working hours.

Give the student diverse work tasks relevant to the occupation or the qualification. Name a qualified and motivated instructor to take responsibility for guiding, monitoring and training the student. Ensure that the student can also participate in contact teaching.

Pay the student at least the salary determined in the collective agreement. You can apply to the apprenticeship office for compensation for the costs of providing the guidance. If the student is an unemployed jobseeker, find out whether you can apply for pay subsidy for the apprenticeship. 

You can take an apprentice even if you have laid off employees or your employees work part-time.

When you would like to have a new apprentice, first check whether your company is suitable for the apprenticeship. For example, find out whether your company can offer sufficiently diverse work tasks, enough working hours and a competent instructor. If necessary, contact your regional apprenticeship office for more information.

Search for a student that is suitable for your needs, for example, through the TE Services or the social media. You can also post a separate advertisement for the apprenticeship on your company’s website, recruitment websites and in other channels used for recruitment.

When you have found a suitable student for your company, contact the apprenticeship office. The office will take care of matters related to apprenticeship training between your company, the student and the partnering vocational institution.

If you would like to train your own employees through apprenticeship training, first think about  

• what kind of training is needed
• which of your employees would participate in the training 
• who would be a suitable instructor. 

After that, contact the apprenticeship office to agree on how to proceed.