Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a hot topic at the moment, and with rising tuition fees and increased Government focus on getting young people training, they're booming.

There are currently over 200 different apprenticeships available, with over 1,200 job roles to choose from. These range from topics more traditionally associated with apprenticeships such as engineering and trade skills to subjects such as business management, professional cookery, and a growing range of new IT apprenticeships.

The latest figures suggest that over 100,000 UK employers in over 160,000 workplaces offer apprenticeship frameworks over a massive range of sectors. Whatever career you'd like to pursue, there's a relevant apprenticeship to get you started.

The Facts:

• The average wage of an apprentice is £170 a week, but minimum wage is £2.60 an hour for those under 19 or 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. While there are no costs to apprentices for their training, and you're still getting paid to learn, it's important to be aware that standard minimum wage does not apply.
• As an apprentice, you'll add value to your organisation. Over 80% of those who employ apprentices say that they make the workplace more productive, and 20% of employers hiring apprentices are hoping that new blood will help them through tough economic times.
• Minimum hours apply. All apprentices must complete a minimum of 30 hours a week (often including a day at college to help you through your qualifications).
• There are no longer any upper age limits for apprenticeships, so anyone over 16 can apply and you're eligible whatever your background qualifications. You may need certain academic requirements for specific apprenticeships, but you can become an apprentice at any point in your career.
• It's not just large companies that look to train staff through apprenticeships. The Government's new Small Employer Incentive encourages small employers to take on young apprentices, aged between 16-24 with additional funding. The scheme launched in November 2011 and will be available across all sectors for all levels of apprenticeship by April 2012. Increased apprenticeship availability in smaller organisations is expected throughout 2012, and it's part of wider plans to boost youth employment.

So what are your main apprenticeship options?

There are three levels of apprenticeship, with different qualifications achieved. Though you learn in a practical, hands-on environment, you also gain academic qualifications.

For those thinking about apprenticeships, there's loads of information around on the web, including:

National Apprenticeship Service

www.apprenticeships.org.uk

The official UK apprenticeship site, this is packed full of useful information. Here you can find answers to the most frequently asked questions, latest news and some top tips for finding and applying for apprenticeships. They also have detailed apprentice profiles, so you can find out what a typical day includes, and where their apprenticeship has taken them.

Not Going To Uni

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

A great site for finding and comparing Apprenticeships, you can see who's recruiting, what the role involves and what qualification you'll gain. Using an easy-to-browse traffic light colour coding system, you can find companies looking for apprentices in your area. If you need any support discussing your options with parents or carers, then there's also some good advice for how to talk openly about your career goals.

You can check out a range of relevant Apprentice articles on our blog, including our series on Training Options for Young People which explores various options including apprenticeships, university and home-based distance learning.

Many of our training providers run apprenticeships too, including those on our Apprenticeships and NVQs hot topic, covering a wide range of subjects from management to retail skills.