Can you take a gap year before starting an apprenticeship, or is it easier to start straight from leaving college?

This would be completely your choice. However, if you apply to start in September, your application cannot be deferred. You would need to apply for the following year once it opens.

Thank you!

In my office there are a some apprentices who took a gap year and then started their apprenticeship. There are also some who were at university and decided they would rather do a degree apprenticeship instead. They had only completed a bit of their university course however and did not have a degree. As you cannot have a degree and do the apprenticeship. And then of course there are some of us who have come straight from school. I wouldn't say any choice has its advantages over the other, just whatever is right for you!