Hiring junior staff has never been more expensive
With the National Minimum Wage rising again in April 2026 and employer National Insurance back on the table, the real cost of bringing in an entry-level employee is now well over what most organisations budget for. And let’s be honest — plenty of “junior” applicants aren’t bringing £25k+ worth of skills to the table anyway.
That’s exactly why this calculator exists.
It shows, in plain numbers, how much you save by training an apprentice instead of hiring a full-time junior. Apprentices earn realistic starting salaries, attract NI relief (24 and under), and in many cases have their entire training funded — while still giving you a motivated employee who’s learning the exact skills your business needs.
Use this tool to compare real costs, cut through the guesswork, and make a decision based on actual figures rather than assumptions.
Apprenticeship Cost & Salary Estimator
Use this to understand typical funding rules and recommended salary bands for marketing apprentices.
Funding Notes
- If you hire an apprentice aged 21 and under and you are a non-levy employer, their training is usually fully government funded (0% co-investment).
- If your apprentice is aged 22 or over and you are a non-levy employer, you will normally pay around 5% of the training price as co-investment.
- For apprentices aged 24 and under, employers usually do not pay employer National Insurance on their earnings (subject to current UK rules).
If your apprentice is aged 16–18, you may also be eligible for a £1,000 government incentive per apprentice.
This is a simplified estimator only. Funding rules, incentives and employer contributions are subject to change and will be confirmed during the apprenticeship sign-up process.
Cut Costs. Build Capability. Hire a Marketing Apprentice.
Apprentices give you real skills, lower salary costs, and better long-term value than a junior hire. If you’re ready to tap into funding, NI savings, and grow your own marketer, we’ll sort the rest.
Fill in the form, and we’ll get in touch.
Email: info@themarketingtrainer.co.uk
Call: 03301 338666
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