Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a real job with training which would allow you to earn while you learn, whilst gaining a nationally-recognised qualification. Apprenticeships take between one and five years to complete and are available in 1,500 occupations across 170 industries varying from construction to manufacturing through to IT and the creative and digital sectors.
This short animation explains what apprenticeships are, the levels, areas of study and how to search for a vacancy.
Apprenticeship Levels
There are various levels of apprenticeship you could apply for depending on your current skills and qualifications. Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels:
All apprenticeships will include elements of on-the-job and off-the-job training leading to industry-recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships will require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice’s ability and competence in their job role.
Benefits of doing an apprenticeship
- Earning a salary
- Training in the skills employers want
- Excellent progression opportunities, whether looking to study further or climb the ranks within the workplace
- Increased future earning potential
- Apprentices enjoy marked salary increases when they complete their training, and those completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 over their lifetime
- Learning at a pace suited to the individual with the support of a mentor
- Paid holiday
Entry requirements
Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 living in England. There are different entry requirements depending on the sector and job.
Salaries
The minimum wage for apprentices is £7.55** per hour, but many employers pay more than this. This is dependent on the sector, region and apprenticeship level eg some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £300 – £500 per week. More details on salaries and entry criteria in specific apprenticeship occupations can be accessed by looking at the vacancies on Find an apprenticeship.
** wage rates change annually check https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates for updates.
Search for apprenticeships
The following websites have search tools to help you find apprenticeships that suit you:
Government apprenticeship website
Unifrog (Unifrog scans a number of search engines and consolidates results)
Help and support
If you need support:
Email Mrs Dellar on KDellar@quarrydale.notts.sch.uk and we will arrange for a careers appointment for you to help answer your queries.