In our current society, University is usually considered to be the next milestone in a person’s life following on from college/sixth form. The great thing is, this standard is slowly starting to be challenged with the rise of apprenticeships! Students have the opportunity to jump straight into the working world and gain various corporate and personal skills. Unfortunately, a lot of young people have been misinformed regarding what apprenticeships are and what they can offer. This article aims to debunk the common misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships.
Myth number 1: ‘Apprenticeships won’t give you the necessary qualifications for your future career’
This is completely false. Apprenticeships offer qualifications of different levels that are still in general equivalent to other traditional academic avenues. They range from an Intermediate Level 2 Apprenticeship (equivalent to a GCSE qualification) up to a Level 6/7 Degree Apprenticeship (equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree). Above all, you will find that alongside this qualification, you would have also gained the necessary experience and skills in order to thrive in whatever industry you are working in.
Myth number 2: ‘Apprenticeships do not pay well’
This is another common misconception. The process of finding an apprenticeship is similar to any normal job search; some jobs offer a higher pay than others and that’s okay. The amount one gets paid during an apprenticeship is dependent on several factors such as the industry, work requirements, the company itself and more. Furthermore, There are a lot of apprenticeships out there that offer candidates a high starting salary upon joining. Below is a graph showing the average salary for an apprentice in 2022
Myth Number 3: ‘Apprenticeships are only for builders and plumbers’
A lot of people hear the word ‘apprenticeship’ and automatically turn to thinking it’s about doing very hands on work. Now there is nothing wrong with working in construction, however these are not the only sectors that offer apprenticeships. More industries are opening their doors to take on apprentices and training them to become experts in their respective fields. A few examples are:
- Finance
- Business and Administration
- Creative
- Hair and beauty
- Manufacturing
- Public services
Myth Number 4: ‘I won’t have a social life if I do an apprenticeship’
There are certainly many opportunities to meet new people during an apprenticeship. Depending on the recruitment agency you sign up with, you will have the chance to connect and network with like minded individuals around the country. Many apprenticeships offer events and opportunities to network with others and build strong communities. It is important that you do enough research to figure out the right company that has a work culture that aligns with your own personal values, this way you are more likely to meet and connect with people similar to you!
Okay I’m convinced, I want to do an apprenticeship. Where do I start?
There are without a doubt many recruitment companies out there that are looking for students to start their apprenticeship journey! Gov.uk is a great place to start, as this is a government official website that offers hundreds of apprenticeships as well as additional information. Multiverse is another great company to check out, offering an additional community hub upon joining an apprenticeship scheme where you will be able to connect with new people on the same journey as you.
Find us here for more information and resources to help kickstart your apprenticeship!
