What are apprenticeships and what do I need?

Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to earn as you learn. You will undertake qualification called National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s). For most apprenticeships you will be based in a work environment with an employer and sent to a training provider or college 1 day per week to gather technical knowledge of that industry. In some industries you could be based with your employer full time and have an external assessor visit you. The employer has to pay you a salary which is can start from the National Minimum Wage for a year 11 leaver. 

You can apply for apprenticeships through current vacancies posted by employers looking for trainees (you need to speak to your Personal Adviser about where to look for these). You can also apply for apprenticeships at your local college. Be aware that in many cases you will have to find your own employer before the programme starts. If you have family or friends willing to give you an opportunity you need to enquire at college or through your PA about how to arrange this.

Some employment sectors are extremely competitive. Areas such as construction related trades and plumbing will be inundated with applicants so having more than 1 career option and a back-up plan is strongly recommended.

Your level of qualification will depend on the employer and the sector. Employers set their own qualification levels and these will form part of the vacancy or advertisement. College apprenticeship operate at level 2 (apprenticeships) and level three (Advanced Apprenticeships), and again each sector or department will ask for different qualifications. Check with your Connexions PA or your local college or use the logon2careers web site.

If you need to find an employer and are unsure of how to do this your Connexions Personal Adviser can help, they can: -

• Showing you where to look (local papers, websites, yellow pages, Careers and Connexions Centre)
• Helping you with application forms.
• Helping you with covering letters.
• Helping you put together speculative letters to send to send out to local companies.
• Help you put together effective CVs
• And provide useful advice on interview technique.

It is essential that you do this if you choose an apprenticeship as your first option. In some less competitive sectors college may help with this.

This page was last updated on the 18th of February 2008 and is scheduled for review on or before the 18th of February 2009