Why An Apprenticeship is Best For You

By ZahraOn January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

Considered University but it just doesn’t seem right for you? Why not try an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship offers you the opportunity to gain experience and develop your knowledge and skills in your chosen field. In this blog we will go over the benefits of an apprenticeship and why it may be best for you.

Getting a degree versus doing an apprenticeship is a long-running debate where careful consideration is needed. Back in the day, University was the popular option and was looked at as the superior option. however, in recent times, apprenticeships have become equally as popular as they continue to evolve and are in fact recognised to the same degree as graduates.

The main benefits of each option can be seen as follows:

Going to university – you’ll be able to pick from thousands of courses, a degree will leave your career more open-ended in terms of future opportunities, you can live away from home which will nourish your independence and you’ll be able to acquire a whole range of transferrable skills, fitting to any job role.
Doing an apprenticeship – you’ll immediately gain exposure to the world of work and obtain valuable on-the-job experience while earning money as you study. You won’t pay tuition fees and you’ll make industry contacts from day one.

What exactly is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable skills and experiences as said before.

Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing course-related work which their college, university or training provider has set for them which once completed, leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

An apprenticeship includes:

paid employment with holiday leave
hands-on-experience
at least 20% off-the-job (OTJ) training
multiple choice assessments which lead to a nationally recognised qualification

Benefits of an apprenticeship

Getting paid to learn!

Having enough money for your essentials is important but so is having a social life. An apprenticeship is an opportunity for you to earn while you learn! This means that throughout your course, you will be earning money as well as knowledge.

Exposure to the work environment

An apprenticeship is a way of easing you into the work environment whilst having people around to guide and educate you along the way, something university doesn’t quite offer you!

Gain industry-recognised qualifications

Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you are rewarded with a qualification that you can showcase to future employers. There are many levels, starting from Level 2 – equivalent to 5 GCSE passes, and continuing all the way up to Level 7 – masters degree.

Enjoy student discounts

As an apprentice, regardless of your age, you’re still considered a student, meaning you’re entitled to an NUS student discount card. This will give you access to discounts on clothing stores, insurance, restaurants, gym memberships and so much more! To find out more about an NUS card, click here.

6. Improve your employability

Nowadays, many employers require a minimum level of experience when hiring new employees. Having experience as an apprentice can help you have that one under your belt!

Why you might consider an apprenticeship over university

The average debt that a university graduate will leave their degree with in the UK is £44,000. If you were to ask anyone whether they would rather get paid to learn or get themselves in thousands of pounds worth of lifetime debt, we know exactly what their answer would be. With this high price, university may not be the best option for many.

Aside from this, apprenticeships give you an opportunity to blossom into your own character, through early exposure to the work environment and the responsibility of completing tasks efficiently.