Taking our own son on as an apprentice?

My son is 15years old and this time next year he will be completing his GCSE exams. As a family we agree that it will be best for him to leave the mainstream school environment that he’s currently in.

My husband and I run our own little business and we have discussed taking our son on as our apprentice. He very much wants to do this. Has anyone got any advice or had any experience with apprenticeships? 

I am doing lots of research and understand now that if we can just get him through his exams there are more ways of him leaving school than just committing to an apprenticeship 

I wonder if anyone found an apprenticeship provided security or maybe too restrictive?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated xx