Apprenticeship Opportunities
Moving on to an Apprenticeship
You may want to consider applying for an Apprenticeship. It is worth giving yourself time to think about this, and start looking into attending some open days/evenings at your chosen institution. This will allow you to get a feel for whether you would be comfortable there, as being happy in your surroundings is important.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a great way to learn on the job, but also earn some money. On apprenticeships you are employed on a real job, trained and once qualified receive a nationally recognised qualification. Even though the age of leaving school has gone up to 18 years old, you can leave at 16 to pursue a career where you are trained whilst working. This means you will need to decide on what you want to do before some of your friends, as competition for apprenticeship are competitive. But don’t let that put you off.
What is an Apprenticeship?
As mentioned above, an apprenticeship is a great way to earn while you learn. If you are successful in gaining a place on an apprenticeship, your employer will pay your wages whilst give you training on the job. You will work alongside qualified professionals who will provide you with guidance, support and help you learn the job to the best of your ability.
Your apprenticeship provider will expect you to attend either college, university or a different training institution one day a week known as ‘day release’ to complete your studies then return back to work for the rest of the week.
What qualifications will I get?
Your work based learning will be marked in three stages:
Who can take an apprenticeship?
To apply for an apprenticeship, you need to be over 16 years old and depending on the level which you want to apply for, you will be required to have passed your Math’s and English.
What experience will I need?
You must have the following:
- Have finished school/college
- Be confident you have the skills to achieve your apprenticeship
How long will it last?
Your apprenticeship can last from one year up to four.
How much can you earn?
The minimum wage per hour you can earn is £3.30, but most employers may pay more - the average is £170 per week. (This figure varies depending on the employer).
How much will it cost?
Apprenticeships cost nothing!
What types of Apprenticeships are there?
Apprenticeships are no longer just engineering or construction, you can now go into 170 industries with 1400 different jobs e.g. trainee accountant, dental nurse, mechanic.
Please see the local college opportunities that are available to you: