An electrical apprenticeship costs almost nothing for the apprentice and far less than most employers think. For non-levy employers the government funds 100% of training for 16 to 24-year-olds and 95% for 25+. This guide covers the levy, funding bands, co-investment, additional costs for tools and equipment, and what apprentices earn from year 1 to qualified.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
The short answer
An apprentice pays nothing for their training. For starts from 1 August 2026 a non-levy employer pays 0% for an apprentice aged 16 to 24 and 5% for 25+, capped by the funding band (£23,000 for Installation and Maintenance Electrician, ST0152). Levy-paying employers pay from their apprenticeship service account. Apprentices typically spend £1,500 to £4,000 over four years on tools, PPE, travel and textbooks.
Source: DfE apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027, rules 213 to 215. Above the band maximum, the employer pays the difference.
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01 · Apprentice Guide
Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate — a qualified electrician (18th Edition, C&G 2391 inspection and testing). Funding figures reflect the DfE apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027 and minimum wage rates from April 2026.
The short answer: almost nothing for the apprentice, and significantly less than most employers expect. For a non-levy employer, the government funds 100% of training costs for apprentices aged 16 to 24 and 95% for those aged 25 or over, making an electrical apprenticeship one of the most affordable routes into a skilled trade.
The Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship (ST0152) has a funding band maximum of £23,000 (DfE funding rules 2025 to 2026, Annex C). For starts from 1 August 2026, a non-levy employer pays nothing up to that maximum for an apprentice aged 16 to 24, and 5% for an apprentice aged 25 or over (DfE funding rules 2026 to 2027, rules 213 to 214). A levy payer uses its apprenticeship service account.
This guide breaks down every cost associated with an electrical apprenticeship — what the government pays, what the employer pays, what the apprentice pays, and what additional costs to expect for tools, PPE, and textbooks.
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02 · Apprentice Guide
How your apprenticeship is funded depends on whether your employer pays the apprenticeship levy. This is determined by their annual payroll.
Large employers (major M&E contractors, facilities companies, housing associations) pay 0.5% of their payroll into a digital apprenticeship service (DAS) account. This money is ring-fenced for apprenticeship training. The employer draws down from their DAS account to pay the training provider. There is no additional cost — the training is fully funded from the levy they have already paid. Unused levy funds expire after 24 months.
Small and medium employers — which includes the vast majority of electrical contractors in the UK — do not pay the levy. For starts from 1 August 2026 they pay nothing for an apprentice aged 16 to 24 at the start, and 5% for one aged 25 or over, with the government covering the remaining 95% (DfE funding rules 2026 to 2027, rules 213 to 214). For a £20,000 training cost, a 25+ apprentice costs the employer £1,000 over the full duration of the apprenticeship.
03 · Apprentice Guide
Every apprenticeship standard has a funding band — a maximum amount that the government will contribute towards the training cost. The training provider negotiates the actual price with the employer, which must be at or below the funding band cap.
| Apprenticeship | Funding Band | Minimum off-the-job hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Installation and Maintenance Electrician (ST0152) | £23,000 | 1,066 hours |
| Level 3 Domestic Electrician (ST1017) | £19,000 | 626 hours |
| Level 3 Electrical, Electronic Product Service and Installation Engineer (ST0150) | £9,000 | 787 hours |
| Level 4 Electrical Power Protection and Plant Commissioning Engineer (ST0157) | £27,000 | 1,114 hours |
Source: DfE apprenticeship funding rules 2025 to 2026, Annex C (funding band maximum and minimum off-the-job hours). From 2026 to 2027 these are published on each standard.
The funding band is the maximum, not the fixed price. Good training providers negotiate competitive rates, so the agreed price can be below the band. A non-levy employer pays nothing for a 16 to 24-year-old; for a 25+ apprentice, 5% of a £20,000 training cost is £1,000 over 4 years.
04 · Apprentice Guide
The government offers several financial incentives to encourage employers to take on apprentices. Understanding these can make the business case for hiring an apprentice even more compelling.
For starts from 1 August 2026, employers who do not pay the levy pay nothing towards training and assessment, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices aged 16 to 24 at the start (DfE funding rules 2026 to 2027, rule 214). The old fewer-than-50-employees rule no longer applies.
The employer and the provider each receive £1,000 for an apprentice aged 16 to 18 at the start, or 19 to 24 with an EHC plan or care leaver status (rule 125). Non-levy employers also receive a £2,000 hiring payment for an apprentice aged 16 to 24 whose practical period starts from 1 October 2026 and who has not been employed by them for more than 90 days beforehand (rule 133). Care leavers receive a £3,000 bursary themselves (rule 127.2).
Levy-paying employers can transfer part of their annual levy funds to other employers. This means a main M&E contractor could transfer levy funds to a smaller sub-contractor in its supply chain, fully covering the training cost of an apprentice the smaller firm could not otherwise afford to take on.
Training providers receive additional funding for apprentices who need learning support — for example, those with a learning difficulty, a disability, or a recognised additional need. This funding is paid to the provider, not the apprentice, and does not reduce the core training budget.
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05 · Apprentice Guide
While the training itself is government-funded, there are additional costs that apprentices and employers should budget for. These are not covered by apprenticeship funding.
| Cost Item | Typical Range | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Basic hand tool kit | £300 — £500 | Varies (often apprentice) |
| AM2-ready tool kit upgrade | £500 — £800 | Usually apprentice |
| PPE (boots, hi-vis, hard hat) | £100 — £200 | Employer (legal duty) |
| Textbooks (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, OSG, GN3) | £125 — £211 | Varies |
| Travel to college/training centre | £500 — £2,000/yr | Apprentice |
| Exam resit fees (if needed) | £50 — £200 per resit | Varies |
| Competent person scheme fee | £300 — £600/yr | Employer (post-qualification) |
| Topic in the current edition | Regulation | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) | 421.1.7 | Regulation 421.1.7 says AFDDs to BS EN 62606 "shall be provided" on single-phase AC socket-outlet circuits up to 32 A in high-rise residential buildings, HMOs, purpose-built student accommodation and care homes, and recommends them for all other premises. |
| RCD protection for lighting circuits | 411.3.4 | Within domestic (household) premises, additional protection by a 30 mA RCD shall be provided for AC final circuits supplying luminaires. |
| TN-C-S earthing — protective neutral bonding | 312.2.1.1 | Now includes a protective neutral bonding (PNB) figure and requirements alongside the existing PME arrangement for TN-C-S systems. |
Regulation references verified against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026.
The total out-of-pocket cost for an apprentice over a 4-year apprenticeship is typically £1,500 to £4,000, mostly spent on tools, travel, and books. This is significantly less than the cost of a university degree, and apprentices earn a wage throughout.
06 · Apprentice Guide
Good tools are an investment in your career. A well-equipped electrician works faster, safer, and more professionally. Here is what to budget for at each stage:
Insulated screwdrivers (flat and Phillips), side cutters, long-nose pliers, cable strippers, voltage indicator pen, tape measure, junior hacksaw, spirit level, Stanley knife, tool pouch or bag. Focus on quality brands — Knipex, Wera, Wiha, CK Tools — they last longer and perform better than budget alternatives.
Crimping tools, conduit bending tools, SDS drill bits, hole saws, a better multimeter, a fish tape or draw wire kit, and a proper tool bag or backpack. Your employer should provide power tools (SDS drill, jigsaw, chop saw), but some apprentices invest in their own cordless drill and impact driver.
The AM2 assessment requires specific tools. Budget for a GS38-compliant voltage indicator, a proving unit, lock-off devices, a low-resistance ohmmeter (or multifunction tester if provided), and a complete set of quality hand tools. Check the AM2 tool list published by your assessment centre well in advance.
GS38 is the HSE guidance note covering electrical test equipment for use on low voltage systems. A GS38-compliant voltage indicator must have fused test leads, finger guards or shrouded probes, and an appropriate CAT rating for the voltage being tested. The Guidance Note 3 (GN3) safe isolation procedure requires you to verify absence of voltage with a GS38-compliant instrument both before and after isolation — not just once. Assessors at the AM2 will check that your voltage indicator meets GS38 and that you follow the correct prove-dead sequence.
07 · Apprentice Guide
Unlike university, an apprenticeship pays you a wage from day one. You earn while you learn, and your wages increase each year as your skills and productivity grow.
| Stage | Typical Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice (16 — 18) | £12,000 — £16,000 |
| Year 2 apprentice (19+) | £16,000 — £20,000 |
| Year 3 — 4 apprentice | £18,000 — £24,000 |
| Newly qualified electrician | £28,000 — £35,000 |
| Experienced electrician (5+ years) | £35,000 — £50,000+ |
| Self-employed electrician | £40,000 — £70,000+ |
Over a 4-year apprenticeship, a typical apprentice earns £60,000 to £80,000 in total wages — while also gaining a Level 3 qualification funded up to £23,000. Compare this to a university graduate who leaves with £40,000 to £50,000 of student debt. The financial case for an electrical apprenticeship is compelling.
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