A History of Apprenticeships
Did you know that the first national apprentice scheme was introduced in 1563?
Apprenticeships can be traced back pretty far – all the way to the Middle Ages and medieval craft guilds. This included conditions much like todays minimum standards. Masters had no more than 3 apprentices and the apprenticeship could last up to 7 years.
In the early 1900’s, there were over 340,000 apprentices in any given year. After both World War I and World War II, growth of apprentices continued. By 1960, a third of boys were leaving school to become apprentices!
In 1993 a new apprenticeship scheme was announced, called Modern Apprenticeships. This is what enabled apprentices to be considered as employees and earn a wage.
From 2004-2015, apprenticeships continued to grow and develop. This included the removal of the upper age limit of 25, as well as the introduction of higher and degree level apprenticeships.
In 2020, Pimlico continues to encourage apprenticeships for all. They’re a fantastic way to develop skills and earn while you learn!
