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Earn While You Learn With Apprenticeships !
An Apprenticeship is about Earning and Learning – you get paid for a job whilst you study for qualifications! - and your qualifications are all about the job that you are doing.
Apprenticeships are suited to people who are focused and know the career they want. There are over 180 different job-related subjects you can study an apprenticeship in.
Many Apprenticeships are sought after, so demand for places is high.
There are 250,000 people currently doing an Apprenticeship programme and you could be one of them !
What are Apprenticeships ?
Apprenticeships are a structured programme of training leading to a recognised qualification, covering a wide range of occupations.
You get the opportunity to work for an employer, learn on the job, build up knowledge and skills and gain qualifications and earn some money at the same time.
Apprenticeships are available at different levels, letting you choose the speed you wish to learn. You don't even have to stop once you've completed an Advanced Apprenticeship. You can go on to do a Foundation Degree or an Honours Degree.
An Apprenticeship does not last for a fixed length of time - it ends when all necessary elements have been completed. The pace of progress will depend on you.
How long do I have to train ?
Most Apprenticeships last between a minimum of one and three years, and there are different types of Apprenticeships available. The Apprenticeship which is right for you will depend on your experience and the opportunities in your area.
Traditionally an Apprenticeship is made up of Key Skills, NVQ and Technical Certificate. The 'new' Apprenticeship blueprint acknowledges that flexibility can be achieved by moving away from that 3 qualification approach and puts emphasis on apprentices developing occupational competence, with the necessary underpinning knowledge and the transferable skills with appropriate qualifications to reward that. In taking this approach the "technical certificate" will effectively be embedded at Apprenticeship as well as at Advanced Apprenticeship level.
The Apprenticeship family, has several types of Apprenticeships which are:
• Young Apprenticeships for 14-16 year olds
• Pre-Apprenticeships - based on the popular Entry to Employment programme (at level 1)
• Apprenticeships (at level 2)
• Advanced Apprenticeships (at level 3)
• Professional Apprenticeships (at level 3 / 4 + a Higher Education or Professional qualification)
Apprenticeships allow people to learn on the job, while building up skills and gaining qualifications.
Apprenticeships cover all areas of employment including business, engineering, design, social care and IT.
Young Apprenticeships
Young Apprenticeships, for 14-16 year olds, give you an opportunity to gain workplace experience - up to 2 days a week. At the same time you will study for a related qualification.
Young Apprenticeships are only running in some areas of the country. Check first with your Careers teacher or Connexions personal adviser to see if Young Apprenticeships are available to you.
Apprenticeships
For young people aged 16 to 24 years of age. Apprentices learn on the job, getting qualifications and earning money at the same time. Employers have helped to decide what skills are needed, so you can be sure you are learning useful and practical skills. Apprenticeships include a Level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) that allows you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge and shows employers that you have reached a certain level within your career development. Apprenticeships will usually take between 1 to 2 years to complete
Advanced Apprenticeships
Advanced Apprenticeships last for at least two years and lead to a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3, relevant key skills qualifications and a technical certificate. Advanced Apprenticeships give people the training, skills and qualifications that they need to go into management or become a technician. Employers will recognise the level you have reached and feel more able to give you more responsibility within your job role. An Advanced Apprenticeship will take between 2 to 4 years to complete depending on the framework / career that you are following.
Professional Apprenticeships
The Professional Apprenticeship is for 18 year old school leavers who don’t want to follow the traditional route to Higher Education but do want to study at HE level.
It offers a real alternative that allows learners to complete an Advanced Apprenticeship whilst undertaking an Higher Education or Professional qualification at the same time. This route will allow the best of both worlds (i.e. a real job that allows you to develop skills and knowledge in a work setting and higher level skills through a HE qualification e.g. a Foundation Degree.) A Professional Apprenticeship usually takes around 3 /4 years to complete
How do I apply?
There are two ways to apply for an Apprenticeship:
1. You are already employed - you and your employer can contact a local training provider who will set up your individual training programme.
2. You are unemployed you can contact a local provider and they can help you find a suitable job. The selection process is just like any other job application process. You could be put through interviews and even asked to take tests to see if you're the right person.
How much does it cost?
There is no cost to the Apprentice for an Apprenticeship training programme; you even receive a wage !(Learning and Earning at the same time !)
What can I do after an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship qualifications can lead onto Higher Education qualifications including Foundation and Honours Degrees.
How do I find out more information?
To find out more, check out http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk
- you can search for an Apprenticeship using the course search page on this web site
Otherwise, to find your local provider, click on http://www.learningdirectory.info
If you live in the North-West of England click on
http://www.nwapprenticeships.co.uk to get links to all the local training providers
or check out http://www.lsc.gov.uk for other providers outside of the local area.
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