Exams are coming to an end, and you’re almost free and have the best summer awaiting you but the decision to go to university is still not something you’re sure about. With everyone saying that it’s the best choice for you and you know it’ll make your parents proud, it can be difficult to speak up. Before you make up your mind, we have listed the pros and cons apprenticeships so that you can be aware and informed before you take that next step.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are real paid jobs where you learn on the job and gain valuable experience. Not only will you be getting a salary with many of our apprenticeships (starting from £20,000), but you’ll also be studying for your qualification alongside your job role. You will normally start out as an executive/junior in your sector learning and completing the day-to-day tasks. The good thing is that you can do an apprenticeship at any age and with any background. If you’re a school leaver or just want a change in a career then an apprenticeship is for you.
You will spend at least 20% of their working hours completing learning that will help with your apprenticeship; this is known as off-the-job training. Once completed, you will gain a nationally-recognised qualification.
Pros of an apprenticeship
One of the best things about an apprenticeship is that it is free! As long as you meet the entry requirements, you will be the one getting paid and not the other way round. Let’s be honest, getting paid in exchange for experience is a win-win situation, and it’s a real salary because you’ll be working for a real employer!
1. Experience
Gaining work experience helps you to stand out from the crowd and gives you a head start, bringing you to the top of the hiring pool. An apprenticeship is one of the best ways to gain both work experience and a qualification meaning, if you don’t want to stay at the company you have completed the apprenticeship with then you don’t have to. In more cases than not, having on-the-job experience outweighs having a degree and in some professions and industries, a degree isn’t even counted unless you have experience. If you want to work in a specific the an apprenticeship would be perfect as you’ll have the specific knowledge for that field.
2. Unlimited Support
As an apprentice, it’s easy to feel like quite nervous especially when you’re the new person in the workplace but with our apprenticeships, you are not alone! Not only do you get assigned a coach who has many years of experience in your chosen field to assist you and make sure you’re on track, but you also get access to our apprentice community which consists of polls, forums, chat rooms and events for you to take part in and meet new people but employers and apprentices.
3. Opportunities to progress
If you do decide to stay with your employer then it could mean an onset promotion! Your current employer trained you and has seen your hard work and dedication and therefore is more likely to give you more responsibilities and even promote you to a more senior level, even after one year.
Cons of an apprenticeship
1. Limited opportunities outside of your field
If for whatever reason you decide that your chosen apprenticeship is not for you, it could mean you would have to spend at least another year doing another apprenticeship if you choose to do so. Doing an apprenticeship requires dedication and qualifies you in a niche skill set so you’re quite limited in jobs and also limited in other qualifications.
2. Funding requirements
Most apprenticeships require at least 2 A-Levels or equivalent and with apprenticeships being funded by the government, it is necessary for you to meet the standard. Normally, apprentices who are not in full-time education and are offered to ages 16 – 24. You also can’t apply for apprenticeships you already have experience in. For example, if I was a hairdresser for 15 years, I couldn’t apply for a hairdressing apprenticeship – I would have to pick one of our other many choices.
So, in summary:
An apprenticeship includes:
- salary based employment with annual leave included
- hands-on-experience in an industry of interest
- a steady 20% off-the-job training for you to learn around your subject
- gaining a nationally known certificate upon completing your qualification.
We hope you find the right apprenticeship for you!
Find out what you need to become an apprentice
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