Understanding NAPS, NATS, and Earn & Learn: How Do These Apprenticeship Schemes Differ?

What is the difference between NAPS, NATS, and the Earn & Learn scheme?

In general, NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) and NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) are both government initiatives aimed at promoting apprenticeships and skill development among the youth.

NAPS focuses on incentivizing employers to engage apprentices, while NATS provides opportunities for formal apprenticeship training in various sectors. On the other hand, the Earn & Learn scheme typically refers to programs where individuals can earn a wage while gaining practical work experience and pursuing further education or training.

Each of these schemes has its unique features and objectives, catering to different aspects of skill development and employment opportunities for individuals.

While posting questions, especially abbreviated forms, it is always desirable to provide them with reference to the situation or industry. I presume you mean it with reference to Apprenticeship. The basic difference between NAPS (National Apprentice Promotion Scheme) and NATS (National Apprentice Training Scheme) is that the latter is meant for Engineering and Technical apprentices, and the former is for the rest of the trades. Earn and Learn is like an internship program designed to bridge the gap between theoretical study and practical skill development, whereby employers are asked to absorb students as interns.

@Madhu T.K, thank you for the response. Is it mandatory to be enrolled with both NATS and NAPS? I am already hiring apprentices via NAPS; however, we just received a letter today for non-compliance with NATS.

NATS Enrollment for Technical Students

NATS is meant for technical/engineering students. If you don't require apprentices in technical trades, you need not enroll for NATS. You can reply to the letter quoting that, for the time being, you don't have a position available for technical trades.

Running a Scheme with TPA

Is it recommended to run this scheme with a Third Party Administrator (TPA)?

Employer Registration Requirements

Do employers have to be registered under both schemes?