Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are very much like normal, full time jobs but with tailored training and qualifications included within them. To give you the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for the job role.

As an Apprentice you’ll be employed on a full time or part time basis, and will have time set aside as part of your employment to work towards Apprenticeship qualifications working with your employer and training provider.

It usually takes between one and five years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take and in what industry.

There are hundreds of different apprenticeships to choose from. Whether you’re at the start of your career, want to change career direction, or if you’re returning to work after a break.

To start your career you usually need a combination of experience in the workplace, employability skills and qualifications.

An apprenticeship gives you all of these by combining on the job training with study meaning you can earn while you learn. With some apprenticeships you can even get a degree.

It usually takes between one and five years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take and in what industry.

Reasons why an apprenticeship could be right for you:

• Earn a wage whilst learning
• Gain practical and relevant work experience
• Develop the key skills that employers want within the industry – an attractive prospect for future employers
• Achieve career-relevant qualification(s)
• Avoid student loans

The national minimum wage for an apprentices can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

The same applies if you’re 19 and over and in the first year of your apprenticeship, after that you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

However many employers pay more than this. The same applies if you’re 19 and over and in the first year of your apprenticeship, after that you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. However many employers pay more than this.

As an apprentice, you are paid for your normal working hours and your time spent training as part of your apprenticeship (usually one day per week).

Pay is dependent on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship, for example some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £500 per week.

For a current example (July 2020) – an opportunity for a Higher Level IT Support Officer in Somerset pays £21 892 – £24157 a year

Many businesses employ apprentices, small employers with less than 10 employees, all the way up to large multi-national and global companies based in England. You may want to apply locally or be prepared to apply for an apprenticeship away from home.

Apprenticeships are available in many industries from A to Z, from Accountancy through to Zoology.

What interests you? That is an important question because what an employer is interested in when they are looking for an apprentice is punctuality, reliability and having a real interest in the job, alongside a willingness to learn.

There are many ways to find an apprenticeship:

• Ask your Local Councils
• Approach companies direct
• Recruitment agencies
• Adverts in the local paper
• A follow on from Work experience
• Contact your local Training Provider and/or College
• Word of mouth

You can also search live vacancies to see what is available and apply using the Find an Apprenticeship tool.

You can expect to complete an application form and provide an up to date CV. Some employers will ask you to take a short test before an interview or give you a task to complete. You can then expect an interview with the employer.

Good luck – Please bear in mind applying for an apprenticeship is applying for a job – others may be interested as well, it may be competitive, so be your best you that you can be.

For more information, contact us.