An advert on Find an apprenticeship must use the word “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” in its title, offer 16 to 48 hours a week and last at least 8 months. It must also pay at least the apprentice minimum wage, be based in England and pass a review by the Department for Education (DfE) before it goes live.
The rules come from guidance, documentation and the service
The rules sit in three places. DfE’s guidance on creating an apprenticeship advert lists what an advert needs. The documentation for the Recruitment application programming interface (API) sets the field rules for adverts sent from software. The funding rules and the minimum wage rates set the rest.
These sources do not always agree, and some have not caught up with recent changes. Where they differ, this guide gives the choice that satisfies all of them. Responsibility for apprenticeship guidance and the funding rules moved from DfE to the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 April 2026.
Check every advert against this list
| Item | Rule | Date to note |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Contains “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” as a whole word; up to 100 characters | — |
| Weekly hours | 16 to 48, including training | — |
| Duration | At least 8 months; longer below 30 hours a week | Was 12 months for starts before 1 August 2025 |
| Wage | Apprentice minimum wage, National Minimum Wage, a fixed yearly wage or competitive salary | Apprentice rate £8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026 |
| Workplace | Up to 10 addresses in England, or recruiting nationally | — |
| Closing date | At least 2 weeks away, with the start date after it | — |
| Training course | One apprenticeship training course from DfE’s list | Foundation apprenticeships available from 1 August 2025 |
| Skills and qualifications | Standard apprenticeship: at least one of each. Foundation apprenticeship: none | — |
| Disability Confident | Say whether the employer is in the scheme | — |
| Employer and provider | The employer’s registered name, trading name or an anonymous listing, and the training provider | — |
| Positions | The number of apprentices you are recruiting | — |
| Text sections | Summary up to 350 characters; duties, training and outcome sections up to 4,000 characters each; a description of the employer | — |
| Contact | A name and email address for applicants’ questions | — |
| Application method | Apply on Find an apprenticeship, or on your own application site | — |
An anonymous employer must still describe what the company does. The reason for anonymity is not published, but DfE’s reviewers use it to approve the advert.
The title must contain “apprentice” as a whole word
DfE’s guidance says the advert name must relate to the training and use the word “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” (Creating an apprenticeship advert). Titles can be up to 100 characters.
The service looks for the whole word. Put it on its own, with a space either side, and do not attach brackets or punctuation to it. “Business Administrator Apprentice - Leeds” meets the rule. A title such as “Business Administrator (Apprentice)” risks failing it.
Weekly hours must be between 16 and 48
The advert’s working week must total 16 to 48 hours, including training (Recruitment API documentation). Give the total of work and training, not work alone. Describe the typical working week as well, in up to 250 characters.
This range is an advert rule. The funding rules set no minimum hours, but apprentices on fewer hours train over a longer period (How to take on an apprentice).
The apprenticeship must last at least 8 months
For apprenticeships starting on or after 1 August 2025, the minimum duration is 8 months (apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027). Before that date it was 12 months. The government announced the change on 11 February 2025 (press release).
The minimum assumes at least 30 hours a week. Below 30 hours, the duration rises in proportion. At 20 hours a week, for example, the advert needs at least 12 months.
The Recruitment API documentation still says apprenticeships must last longer than a year. It has not caught up with the 2025 change. GOV.UK now says apprenticeships last from 8 months to 6 years (Employing an apprentice).
The wage must meet the apprentice minimum wage
Each advert uses one of four wage types.
| Wage type | What the advert shows |
|---|---|
| National Minimum Wage for apprentices | The apprentice rate |
| National Minimum Wage | The National Minimum Wage |
| Fixed wage | A yearly amount you set |
| Competitive salary | The word “Competitive”, with no figure |
Minimum wage rates change on 1 April each year. DfE updates adverts that use either minimum wage option when they do. The rates from 1 April 2026 are below (National Minimum Wage rates).
| Age or status | From 1 April 2026 | 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice rate | £8.00 an hour | £7.55 an hour |
| Under 18 | £8.00 an hour | £7.55 an hour |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 an hour | £10.00 an hour |
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 an hour | £12.21 an hour |
The apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19. It also applies to those aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. After that first year, an apprentice aged 19 or over must get the minimum wage for their age. Employers must pay apprentices for their time at work and in off-the-job training.
A fixed wage must work out at no less than the apprentice minimum wage for the hours advertised. At 30 hours a week, the lowest fixed wage is £12,480 a year (£8.00 × 30 hours × 52 weeks). Check the rate that will apply on the start date, since rates change every April.
The workplace must be in England
Every address needs a first line and a valid postcode in England. An advert can list up to 10 addresses. It can instead recruit nationally, with up to 500 characters explaining where the apprentice will work. A national advert cannot also list addresses.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own apprenticeship systems, so their workplaces cannot be advertised here.
Set the closing date at least 2 weeks away
The Recruitment API documentation says a closing date must be at least 2 weeks in the future. It suggests a start date 2 weeks after the closing date. The start date must fall after the closing date.
DfE’s service may accept a closing date only 7 days away. That shorter period is not in DfE’s guidance or documentation, so do not plan around it. A closing date at least 2 weeks away meets both, and gives applicants time to apply.
Check, too, that the training course is still open to new starts on the start date. After an advert goes live, you can extend its closing date in the apprenticeship service (Manage your apprenticeship adverts).
Foundation apprenticeships cannot ask for qualifications or skills
A foundation apprenticeship advert cannot list qualifications or skills. DfE’s reason is that foundation apprenticeships cannot have application requirements (Recruitment API documentation). Leave both empty, and describe the role and training instead.
Foundation apprenticeships are level 2 and were first available from 1 August 2025. They are for people aged 16 to 21. The upper age is 24 for people with an education, health and care plan, care leavers, and prisoners and prison leavers. Like other apprenticeships, they last at least 8 months (Foundation apprenticeship).
Standard apprenticeships need a skill and a qualification
For a standard apprenticeship, supply at least one skill and at least one qualification. The documentation says a qualification is required. The service may also require at least one skill. Supplying both meets each requirement.
Choose skills from DfE’s list, or add your own. Where applicants apply on Find an apprenticeship, they are asked for an example of using each skill. Mark each qualification as essential or desired. GCSE grades use the 1 to 9 scale, and a BTEC needs a level.
Say whether the employer is Disability Confident
Every advert must say whether the employer is Disability Confident. Answering yes shows the scheme’s logo on the advert. Where applicants apply on Find an apprenticeship, they are also asked whether they want to apply through the scheme.
DfE reviews each advert after these checks
Meeting these rules does not publish an advert. DfE reviews every advert first, and says it usually approves or rejects adverts within 24 hours. The guide to posting vacancies to Find an apprenticeship explains the review.
enrola checks these rules before posting
In enrola, each vacancy is an Opportunity record with its summary, description, locations, salary, hours, duration, dates and positions available. Before posting, enrola checks Find an apprenticeship’s rules, including that the title contains “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” and that the apprenticeship lasts at least 8 months, or longer below 30 hours a week. DfE’s review still decides whether the advert goes live.
Post to Find an apprenticeship with enrola · Manage apprenticeship vacancies
Questions
Must an apprenticeship advert title include the word “apprentice”?
Yes. The title must contain “apprentice” or “apprenticeship” as a whole word, with a space either side.
What is the apprentice minimum wage in 2026?
It is £8.00 an hour from 1 April 2026. It applies to apprentices under 19, and to those aged 19 or over in their first year. After that, the rate for their age applies.
How long must an apprenticeship last?
At least 8 months for starts from 1 August 2025, and longer if the apprentice works under 30 hours a week. The minimum was 12 months before that date.
Can a foundation apprenticeship advert list qualifications?
No. Foundation apprenticeship adverts cannot list qualifications or skills.
How far ahead should the closing date be?
At least 2 weeks. That meets DfE’s documentation and leaves time for applicants to apply.
Sources
All sources were read on 16 October 2026.
- Creating an apprenticeship advert as an employer, GOV.UK.
- Recruitment API v1 documentation, apprenticeship service developer hub.
- National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, GOV.UK.
- How to take on an apprentice, GOV.UK.
- Employing an apprentice, GOV.UK.
- Apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027, GOV.UK.
- Government press release on apprenticeship changes, 11 February 2025, GOV.UK.
- Foundation apprenticeship, apprenticeship service help centre.
- Manage your apprenticeship adverts, apprenticeship service help centre.