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As an apprentice you will learn on the job, develop skills and get a qualification.
On this page:
Young Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
Types of Apprenticeships
Levels
Pay
Applying for an Apprenticeship
Where can an Apprenticeship lead?
How to find out more
A Young Apprenticeship will allow you to get a qualification related to a specific job and do 50 days work experience. They are available in different subjects, such as construction or business administration. After completing a Young Apprenticeship, you could go on to an Apprenticeship, a job that includes further training or GCSEs.
Look on Routes Ahead to find out if Young Apprenticeships are available at your school.
Apprenticeships offer you the opportunity to earn while you learn. They involve both on and off-the-job training, so as well as working for an employer, you’ll spend some time at a college or with a training provider. The national minimum wage for apprentices is £95 a week but some employers pay more.
An Apprenticeship is a level 2 qualification and is equivalent to five good GCSEs. An Advanced Apprenticeship is a level 3 qualification and is equivalent to two A levels. It will take between one and three years to complete an Apprenticeship and you’ll get vocational qualifications related to your job, such as an NVQ. You’ll also study functional skills and you may complete a technical certificate needed for your chosen job.
After completing an Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship, you could continue in skilled employment and do further professional training or go into Higher Education.
Apprenticeships may be suitable for you if you know what you want to do for a living and are keen to start getting the qualifications and skills you need.
There are two different types of Apprenticeship programmes:
Employed Apprenticeship — also known as a waged Apprenticeship. You are employed by a company, paid a wage and receive training from a training provider.
Programme-led Apprenticeship — also known as an unwaged or non-employed Apprenticeship. You will start your training with a training provider and attend a placement with an employer, with a view to being employed at the end of it.
Please note: Programme-led Apprenticeships are being phased out by April 2011.
Apprenticeships are available at different levels. An Apprenticeship is a level 2 programme which is equivalent to five good GCSEs. You will work towards qualifications at level 2 and learn the skills needed to do your job.
An Advanced Apprenticeship is a level 3 programme which is eqivalent to two A levels. You will work towards qualifications at level 3 and learn more advanced skills related to your job. On some Advanced Apprenticeships you may study towards level 2 qualifications before you move on to level 3 qualifications.
You can earn while you learn. If you are employed by the company offering the Apprenticeship, you should be paid the going rate for the job. This should be at least £95 a week.
If you are not employed by the company, you may be able to claim the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). This depends on your household income but could be up to £30 a week. Your parents and carers can also continue to claim Child Benefit and Working Tax Credit.
Applying for an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are offered through employers and training providers. Training providers work with a number of employers and will try to match you with an employer. Some training providers offer just one area of work and others offer several.
There are no specific entry requirements for an Apprenticeship but training providers and employers usually want you to:
- have a good general education particularly in maths and English, and
- show interest in the type of work you are applying for.
For an Advanced Apprenticeship, you will have to have:
- five GCESs grade C or above, or
- completed an Apprenticeship in the same subject.
You can apply for Apprenticeships through several routes. For the best chance of finding an Apprenticeship, you should apply for vacancies using all of the following options:
- search and apply for the latest vacancies using Apprenticeship Vacancies Online — AVoL
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Top tips on applying for and tracking an Apprenticeship online
. - search for vacancies on Purple Pages, and
- search for potential vacancies with training providers on Routes Ahead.
Where can an Apprenticeship lead?
From an Apprenticeship you can go on to:
- an Advanced Apprenticeship
- a higher level Apprenticeship - level 4, where available
- further professional training
- higher education, such as a Foundation or Honours degree, or
- skilled employment and further training.
You can:
- talk to your teachers or Connexions Personal Adviser
- call the Connexions Direct Helpline on 080 800 13 2 19, the Connexions Derbyshire Helpline on 0800 269 468 or the Apprenticeship Helpline on 08000 150 600
- talk to other young people who have done an Apprenticeship
- speak to a mentor, or
- read Interested in earning while you're learning?
