An apprenticeship is a compensated position that allocates dedicated time for formal qualification studies. These opportunities span from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE) to Level 7 (equivalent to a Master's Degree) and cater to both new recruits and seasoned professionals. Course fees are covered by a combination of your employer and the government.

NCFE stands for Northern Council for Further Education. It is a national awarding organization in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. NCFE designs, develops, and certificates diverse, nationally recognized qualifications and awards. These qualifications range from Entry Level up to Level 8 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is now known as the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

VTCT stands for Vocational Training Charitable Trust. It is also an awarding organization in the UK, specializing in vocational and technical qualifications in the fields of beauty therapy, hairdressing, complementary therapy, sport, active health, hospitality, catering, and retail.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) was an executive agency of the Department for Education in England. It was responsible for funding education and training for children, young people, and adults. However, as of April 2017, the SFA merged with the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to form the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).