What is an apprenticeship?
In order to discuss why you should choose and apprenticeship, we should talk about what an apprenticeship is. An apprenticeship is a paid job where you can learn and gain valuable experiences. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
This is a great way to start you off in your chosen career. It allows you to acquire valuable skills and experience which improves your CV and employability when you’ve finished training.
What are the pros of an apprenticeship?
There are many benefits that come from completing an apprenticeship as stated above. Here are some more benefits:
- experience and skills development
- a nationally recognised qualification (with no tuition fees)
- employee benefits and a wage
- exposure to industry professionals
- You’ll automatically boost your career prospects
What are the different levels of apprenticeships?
- Level 2- Equivalent to GCSE
- Level 3- Equivalent to A levels
- Level 4, 5, 6 and 7- Equivalent to foundation degree and above
- Level 6 and 7- Equivalent to Bachelors degree or masters
What sectors can you get apprenticeships in?
Once the question has been answered on why you should choose an apprenticeship, we can discuss the many career options there are to choose from including:
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Business and administration
- Care services
- Catering and hospitality
- Construction
- Creative and design
- Digital
- Education and healthcare
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Legal, finance and accounting
- Sales, marketing and procurement
There are many more sectors to choose from, and you can read them here.
Apprenticeship feedback:
There are lots of opinions out there about apprenticeships and it’s great to see what others experiences have been. Here is a quote below from an apprentice:
‘I think apprenticeships are a great option for someone who wants to gain valuable skills of the ‘real life working world’ and is perhaps not keen on full time study. When I finish I will have a recognised qualification as well as a whole range of first-hand experiences in the workplace, which I wouldn’t have had studying full time. The bonus is I’ve been earning money too!’
If you think an apprenticeship sounds like the best fit for you, then take a look online at Apprenticeship Networks.
