Become a tradesperson

There are three main ways into a UK trade. Each takes a different length of time and costs a different amount. This page sets out cost and time for each and whether it pays back. It was read on gov.uk on 24 October 2026 and the links are at the foot.

The three ways in

One. Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship mixes paid work with study. You are an employee earning a wage and you get holiday pay. You work with experienced staff and you get time for training and study of at least 20 percent of normal working hours. Apprenticeships can take from 8 months to 6 years depending on the type and level. This is on the become an apprentice page on gov.uk.

Levels run from 2 to 7. Level 2 is GCSE level. Level 3 is A level. Levels 4 to 7 are higher and degree level. You must be 16 or over and living in England and not in full time education. Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland have separate organisations.

Cost to you. The government can pay 100 percent of training and assessment costs up to the funding band maximum for apprentices aged 16 to 24. Employers with a total pay bill under £3 million pay up to 5 percent of training cost and the government pays the rest. This is on the apprenticeship funding page on gov.uk. In short many apprentices pay nothing for training because the employer and the government meet the cost. You earn while you learn rather than paying tuition.

Time. Most trade apprenticeships run two to four years. Electrical and plumbing often take three to four years. Carpentry and plastering can be two to three years. Find a training provider on gov.uk for the standard in your area and read the planned duration before you apply.

Wage in training. Apprentice rate on gov.uk for April 2025 to March 2026 is £7.55 an hour for those aged 16 to 18 and for those 19 and over in the first year. After that the age rate applies. That is the legal minimum. Many construction apprentices are paid above that.

Two. College then site experience

College means a diploma or NVQ at a further education college followed by supervised time on site to build hours and sign off.

Cost. Colleges in England can be free at 16 to 18 for a first level 2 or 3. Adults often pay fees for level 2 and 3 unless funded through an employer or adult learner support. Provider fees vary by college so you must check the course listing on gov.uk find a course. Tools and books and travel sit on top of tuition where any applies.

Time. Level 2 diploma usually one year full time. Level 3 often one more year. You still need site time and often a need for an NVQ assessment on the job to move from trainee to qualified. Expect one to two years after college to be seen as up to speed with a supervisor.

Pay back. College suits those who want classroom time first or who cannot find an employer to take them on day one. The trade off is you pay costs sooner and earn later compared with an apprenticeship.

Three. Private training centre intensive course

Private centres offer intensive courses that run weeks or months rather than years. They suit career changers who can fund upfront and want speed.

Cost. Fees vary widely by provider and are not set by gov.uk. Government does not fund these courses as apprenticeships. You pay the fee and materials and exam fees and lodging if not local. Compare the centre's pass rates and what card you get at the end before you pay.

Time. Weeks to months for the course plus time on site afterwards to build a portfolio. No provider can make you fully up to speed in weeks for a trade that normally takes years to master. Treat the course as entry not completion.

Does it pay back

The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings for April 2025 reports median weekly pay for full time employees at £766.60 and median gross annual earnings at £39,039. That is across all jobs. Skilled trades sit near or around that figure as employees before self employment adds costs and also adds scope to charge more.

Pay back depends on billable days not headline day rate. A trader who bills 180 days at £200 day rate takes £36,000 labour before costs. At £250 a day the same days take £45,000 before costs. Materials and vehicle and insurance and pension come out of that. Use the day rate calculator to set the rate your year needs at your own billable days.

Compared with university, a trade apprenticeship avoids tuition debt and pays a wage from week one. The Institute for Apprenticeships lists standards with expected durations and funding bands. Check the standard for your trade to see the band maximum which is the public cost of that training.

The three things the brochure leaves out

One. Cards and tickets keep costing

CSCS and trade cards need renewal. Gas Safe needs annual registration. Part P and MCS and F Gas need assessment and renewal. Insurance must reflect the ticket. None of that is in the brochure. Put renewal cost in year one of your plan not as an afterthought.

Two. You need a first employer or a first customer

A college pass without site time does not make you ready to run jobs alone. An intensive course without a mentor leaves the same gap. Ask any provider how many learners get supervised site time and what card they leave with. If the answer is vague walk away.

Three. Self employment is not wages

Wages are paid for hours worked. Self employment is paid for jobs billed and collected. Quoting and chasing and gaps between jobs are unpaid. Holiday pay and sick pay do not exist unless you fund them. The taking money guide shows how a deposit and staged payments and a clear payment note reduce the gap between doing the work and being paid.

Sources

Every gov number above was read on gov.uk on 24 October 2026.

• Become an apprentice on gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice. What an apprenticeship is. Levels 2 to 7. Age 16 or over. Duration 8 months to 6 years. At least 20 percent off the job training.
• Find an apprenticeship on gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. Where to search and duration by standard.
• Apprenticeship funding on gov.uk. https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/understanding-apprenticeship-benefits-and-funding. Government can pay 100 percent for 16 to 24 up to band maximum. Employers under £3 million pay bill pay up to 5 percent.
• National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates on gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates. Apprentice rate £7.55 from April 2025 to March 2026. £12.21 for 21 and over.
• Employee earnings in the UK 2025 on ONS. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/annualsurveyofhoursandearnings/2025. Median weekly £766.60 and annual £39,039 for full time employees April 2025 provisional.