Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Apprenticeships

If you’ve got a good idea of where you want to go with your career and like the idea of earning while you learn, an Apprenticeship could be for you. It guarantees top quality training, but lets you develop skills and gain qualifications on the job.

Apprenticeships - Earn While You Learn

To give yourself the best chance of success in your career, you’ll need to carry on developing your skills throughout your working life. Apprenticeships give you the chance to learn - and gain nationally recognised qualifications - while getting a weekly wage.

There are more than 180 Apprenticeships available across more than 80 industry sectors. They include accountancy, business administration, construction, engineering, manufacturing and many more.

Is an Apprenticeship right for you?

First you’ll need to decide which career suits you best. Next, you’ll have to judge whether you can commit to the demands of an Apprenticeship. This means juggling work and study long-term - a period of one to five years.

How long does an Apprenticeship last?

It varies. Most last between one and two years, though some take up to five. How long it takes will depend on the profession you choose, your level of ability and your employer’s needs.

Who can apply

There are no fixed entry requirements for most Apprenticeships. However, for some more technical Apprenticeships you may need GCSE grades A*- C in maths, English and science. If your application is successful, you’ll be offered either an Apprenticeship or an Advanced Apprenticeship. Which type you’re offered will depend on the skills, experience and qualifications you already have.

To qualify for either type of Apprenticeship, you need to be:

• Living in England, and
• Not in full-time education

Programme Led Apprenticeships

If you want to do an Apprenticeship but haven’t yet found an employer you can start a ‘Programme Led Apprenticeship’. This means beginning your studies at college - and getting some work experience -before you move onto an Apprenticeship with an employer. If you’re doing a Programme Led Apprenticeship and you’re aged between 16 and 18 you may qualify for Education Maintenance Allowance

If you’re doing an Apprenticeship with an employer...

You’ll get a wage of at least £95 a week. In fact, many Apprentices are paid more than this.

Holidays

You’ll get at least one and a half days’ paid holiday for every month of your training. This is on top of bank holidays.

Qualifications

Apprenticeships (and Advanced Apprenticeships) can lead to:

• A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or Level 3
• Key Skills qualifications like problem solving and using technology (in most cases)
• A Technical Certificate such as BTEC or City & Guilds Progression Award
• Other qualifications needed for particular occupations
• The qualifications you gain as an apprentice can also help you to get into higher education.

Finding out more and making an application

You can find out more - or search and apply for Apprenticeship vacancies in England on the national Apprenticeships website www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Full article can be read on www.direct.gov.uk

Crown Copyright: Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence