Questions
Straight answers about cost, funding, time and what happens at the end.
All questions
24 questions
The apprenticeship
Who is the Content Creator apprenticeship for?
Anyone employed (or about to be) by a UK business who will spend their working week making content for it — most often people aged 16 to 24, but there is no upper age limit. It suits businesses of every size, from a single salon to a chain of shops.
How long does it take?
Typically 15 months, ending with Gateway to Completion. Apprentices spend at least 348 hours learning away from their normal duties — around a day a week. Prior learning can shorten the plan.
What qualification does the apprentice get?
The Content Creator Level 3 apprenticeship (Skills England standard ST0105 v2.0) — a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification, equivalent to A-Level.
Can they do it part-time?
Yes. Apprenticeships usually assume 30 hours or more a week. Fewer hours are possible, with the programme extended so the training still fits — talk to us about your situation.
What are DWP, Skills England and ESFA?
Skills England owns the apprenticeship standards, including Content Creator ST0105 v2.0. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funds apprenticeships in England — responsibility moved from the Department for Education on 1 April 2026. You may still see ESFA on older documents; funding is now administered under DWP. Ofsted inspects training providers — Halls of Ivy was graded Exceptional in July 2026.
Is this different from Multiverse, Apprentify or Firebrand?
They are training providers offering many apprenticeships. We focus on one — Content Creator — with a course and platform built for it by working creators, delivered by an Ofsted Exceptional provider. If another provider suits you better, we would rather you knew.
Cost and funding
How much does it cost — really?
For most small businesses, nothing for the training. If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government pays 100% of the training for apprentices aged 16 to 24, and 95% for apprentices aged 25 and over (you pay 5%, up to £500 on the £10,000 band). Levy-paying employers pay from their levy account. You pay the apprentice’s wage either way.
What is the £2,000 incentive?
From 1 October 2026, non-levy employers can receive a £2,000 hiring payment for a new apprentice aged 16 to 24. There is a further £1,000 payment for apprentices aged 16 to 18 (or under 25 for care leavers and those with an EHC plan). Payments go through the training provider in instalments and conditions apply — we check your eligibility for you.
For employers
What if the apprentice leaves or drops out?
Tell us as soon as you can. We record their last day of learning and stop the training from that date. If they have left your business, we can talk about recruiting someone new.
What support does the employer get?
A named tutor, a progress review with you and the apprentice every 12 weeks, your own dashboard showing progress and evidence, and a free review of your social media from our lead expert. We handle the paperwork with Halls of Ivy.
Does my business qualify as an employer?
If you are a UK business, charity or organisation that can employ someone and give them real content work — and the time to learn — you almost certainly can. The apprentice needs a contract of employment and must spend at least half of their working hours in England.
How do I hire an apprentice if I don’t have one yet?
We help you write the role, advertise it and shortlist candidates who have registered their interest with us. You choose who to hire.
What if nobody on my team is suitable?
Then hire someone new — that is what most employers do, and it is when the £2,000 incentive applies. We help you recruit.
Can my current employee enrol?
Yes. Existing staff can do the apprenticeship as long as it teaches them substantial new skills. Training is free for under-25s at non-levy employers; for staff aged 25 and over, non-levy employers pay 5%.
Can we offer this across all our locations?
Yes. Each apprentice has their own record, so you can have apprentices at several sites. Learning is mostly online, with workshops at our Romford and Chelmsford academies and visits to your workplace where they help.
What about employees based overseas?
An apprentice needs the right to work in the UK and must spend at least half of their working hours in England. Staff based overseas cannot be funded.
Can we keep the apprentice on full-time afterwards?
Yes — and most employers want to. They are your employee throughout, so you simply carry on, now with a qualified content creator.
For apprentices
Will I get paid?
Yes. You are employed, so you are paid a wage — at least the apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage, and often more. You pay nothing for the training.
Am I too old, or too young?
You need to be 16 or over and have left school. There is no upper age limit; the funding is simplest for 16 to 24 year olds.
Do I need experience?
No. You need to be interested in content and willing to learn. If you already make content, we will look at what you know and may shorten your training.
Training and assessment
What tech do we need?
A smartphone that shoots good video, a laptop or computer, and an internet connection. Lessons run in the browser; there is nothing to install.
Who does the training?
Halls of Ivy’s tutors deliver and support the apprenticeship, using the course and platform from Learn Content Creator, created by our lead expert and team.
Who does the assessment?
The revised standard has no separate end-point exam. The apprentice is assessed throughout: tutors check every piece of evidence against the 57 knowledge, skills and behaviours, employers confirm behaviours at work, and the work is independently moderated.
What happens at the end?
Gateway to Completion: a final check that every skill is evidenced, the off-the-job hours are complete and the reviews are signed. Then the qualification is awarded.