Salary scales for trainee and apprentice staff
Find out the salary scales for trainee and apprentice staff.
Background
In 2021, HR reviewed the Apprentice salary scale to ensure the rates remain competitive within a rapidly changing market.
As a result, a new Apprentice pay scale was incorporated into the University's existing pay grades and structures, and our main staff A-L pay structure was extended to cover Apprentices. Apprentice roles are subject to the same job evaluation and cost of living increases as all other roles within the A-L pay structure.
Apprentices will be subject to an annual progression movement, which will be determined by review of the required work-based performance and study progress relevant to the period of learning.
Salaries effective from 1st August 2026
| Apprentice level | Evaluated grade | Spine points | Salary | Admin apprentice / Catering apprentice | Senior admin apprentice | Technical apprentice (4 year progressive) | Laboratory technician apprentice (2 year progressive) | Trainee technician (one year non-apprenticeship) | Trades apprentices (non-progressive) | Trades apprentices (progressive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Grade and Description | XAAA Administrative/Catering Apprentice | XASA Senior Administrative Apprentice | XATA Technical Apprentice | XALT Laboratory Technician Apprentice | XATT Trainee Technician Apprentice | XAIL Trade Apprenticeship | XAIL Trade Apprenticeship | |||
| Level 2 (GCSE) | B | 10 | £24,217 | Year 1 | Year 1 | Year 1 | Year 1 | Year 1 | ||
| Level 3 (A level) 11 |
C | 10 | £24,217 | Year 1 | Year 1 | |||||
| 11 | £24,699 | Year 2 | Year 2 | Year 2 | Year 2 | Year 2 | ||||
| Level 4 (Foundation degree) | D | 12 | £25,179 | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 3 | ||||
| 13 | £25,754 | Year 2 | Year 4 | Year 4 | ||||||
| Level 5 (Higher national degree) | E | 15 | £26,615 | Year 1 | ||||||
| 16 | £27,241 | Year 2 | ||||||||
| 17 | £27,865 | Year 3 | ||||||||
| Level 6 (Degree) | F | 19 | £29,354 | Year 1 | ||||||
| 20 | £30,180 | Year 2 | ||||||||
| 21 | £30,986 | Year 3 | ||||||||
| 22 | £31,861 | Year 4 | ||||||||
| 23 | £32,722 | Year 5 | ||||||||
| Level 7 (Degree ) | G | 23 | £32,722 | Year 1 | ||||||
| 24 | £33,662 | Year 2 | ||||||||
| 25 | £34,630 | Year 3 | ||||||||
| 26 | £35,302 | Year 4 | ||||||||
- Spine point 10 continues to be uplifted to £24,479 to meet the 1 May 2026 Real Living Wage.