What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships offer a fantastic way to gain practical experience while earning a salary and working towards a qualification. Here's what you need to know if you're considering an apprenticeship:

Eligibility and the basics

Age: You must be 16 or over to start an apprenticeship. There's no upper age limit.

Education: You don't need any specific qualifications, but some apprenticeships may require certain GCSEs or equivalent.

Salary: Apprentices are paid a wage, and you're entitled to holiday pay.

Training: You'll combine on-the-job training with studying for a qualification. You'll typically spend at least 20% of your time on training.

Finding and applying for an apprenticeship

Research: Explore different apprenticeship options to find a career path that interests you.  If you’re not sure what this might be, click here for some resources to help with making career choices.
Where to find apprenticeships: Click here for information on finding apprenticeship vacancies.
Applications: The application process can vary, but it usually involves a CV, cover letter, and possibly assessments or interviews. Click here to learn more about CVs and cover letters / Click here to learn more about preparing for interviews.
Competition: Apprenticeships can be competitive, so be prepared to apply for multiple roles.

Key benefits of apprenticeships

Earn while you learn: Gain practical experience and a salary at the same time.  
Qualifications: Achieve industry-recognised qualifications.  
Job prospects: Develop valuable skills and build a strong foundation for your career.
Career progression: You could potentially progress to higher-level roles within your company.

Other considerations

Salary: Minimum apprenticeship salary is lower than national minimum wage. Although some companies are willing to pay more money, some will pay this minimum, so you need to make sure that is enough money for you to live off of.
Progression: Most apprenticeships don’t give enough UCAS points to enable you to progress to university after completing them. If university progression is something that you already know you’re planning for, just be aware that you may need to complete an additional course to allow you to do this. Book an appointment with the Careers Team if you’re unsure.

Additional tips

Networking: Building relationships with people in your chosen industry can be helpful.
Skills: Develop strong communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, as well as practical skills related to your chosen industry.
Continuous learning: Be eager to learn and grow throughout your apprenticeship, once you’ve completed one apprenticeship you might want to move onto a higher level apprenticeship to gain further skills.

Pro Tip!

Apprenticeships can be advertised at any time! So make sure that you are always checking the relevant websites, as they can add new vacancies daily.