An apprenticeship can lead in all sorts of directions. Some people move into a permanent job. Others start taking on clients, freelance projects or contracts of their own. A hairdresser might build a client list, a graphic designer might take on a first commission, or someone in construction might be asked to price a job outside their usual work.
Sending that first invoice can feel like a milestone. It is proof that somebody values what you can do. But it can also be the moment you realise how much sits behind getting paid.
There is the equipment or software you paid for yourself. The journey you forgot to include in your quote. The client who pays later than expected. And the question that arrives when the money reaches your account: how much of it is actually yours to spend?
These challenges are not confined to one trade or profession. The details vary, but anyone moving from an apprenticeship into self employment needs to think about pricing their time, keeping records and managing an income that may change from month to month. Some will do this full time; others will start with occasional work alongside a job.
The small habits matter early on.
Keeping invoices and receipts, recording what you have been paid and noting what you have spent on work can feel excessive when you are just starting out. It becomes much harder to untangle later, particularly when it is time to complete a tax return. A simple system you can keep up with is better than a perfect one you abandon after a fortnight.
Then there is the gap between earning money and having money available. You might need to buy supplies before a customer pays, or go several weeks between projects. Putting some money aside for tax and quieter periods takes practice, especially when this is your first experience of setting your own prices.
For people receiving Universal Credit, there are extra questions. Self-employed income and expenses generally need to be reported each month, even though tax returns follow a different timetable. Some people who are treated as gainfully self-employed may also be affected by the Minimum Income Floor after any applicable start-up period. Their Universal Credit could then be calculated using an assumed level of earnings, even in a month when they earned less. Understanding how this applies to your own circumstances matters before you count on Universal Credit to cover a quiet month.
None of this is an argument against working for yourself. It can offer flexibility, independence and the chance to shape a career around your skills. But learning how to do the work is only part of the preparation. Young people also deserve to know how to quote for it, get paid for it and handle the responsibilities that come with it.
That is why Society Matters’ Apprenticeship Success Series includes Going Self-Employed: What Every Young Person Needs to Know. This practical half-day workshop uses real-life examples and activities to explore irregular income, keeping records, tax responsibilities and how self employment can affect Universal Credit. Participants also receive materials they can use afterwards, including a self-employment starter guide, an HMRC registration checklist, a simple business budget planner, a monthly income tracker and guidance on receipts and allowable expenses. The aim is to help them make an informed choice and know where to turn for support as they take their next step.
Need a session tailored to your apprentices?
We specialise in Bespoke workshops! Email us at hello@societymatterscic.com to have a chat about what would be useful for your group.
