Finding an apprenticeship upon leaving school has become an increasingly popular choice for young people. Working full-time in as an apprentice gives you the opportunity to train for a vocation whilst being paid and experiencing for yourself – on a daily basis – what working life will be like in your chosen sector. There are a multitude of fantastic opportunities available for people who are willing to put in hard work and prove themselves to be suited to the industry. For some, practical skills and on-hand training are preferable to periods of long and intense study and apprenticeships typically come with a high degree of flexibility in terms of long-term career planning.

As you will know, the job market is highly competitive and individuals who have lengthy training and experience in a given sector are very appealing prospects for potential employers who want to know that their staff are fully capable. Book learning can only ever get you so far – it is having the ability to apply what you have learnt into reality that is the most important skill and apprenticeships are designed with this central goal in mind. Knowing where and when to look is the first step in securing an apprenticeship for yourself! Use the guide below to help you find the right apprenticeship.

What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships combine classroom learning with on-the-job experience and training. Finding the right apprenticeship for you is critical and will take time and effort on your part. Apprentices will work with people who have been in the industry for a long time and will therefore benefit from their expertise and knowledge and participate fully in the machinations of the business. Combining study with skills and knowledge in a sector is an excellent way to ensure that you are gaining experience that will translate into vocational work. Yearly, there are a vast pool of graduates all searching for work experience and graduate jobs. Apprentices stand out from these people because they have a wealth of experience in their given sector. During this time, apprentices are paid which has the additional advantage of cutting out the worry and concern of student debt.

What are the benefits of doing an apprenticeship versus a university degree?

• NO FEES – unburden yourself from student debt! Your employer pays tuition costs so you don’t need to take out huge student loans that you will spend a long time paying back. This is very appealing for people, particularly in a saturated job market full of recent graduates.
• Different types of apprenticeships – There are FOUR levels of apprenticeships

1. Intermediate (Level 2) – roughly the same as having 4 or 5 GCSEs.
2. Advanced (Level 3) – roughly equivalent to two A levels/Highers.
3. Higher/technical (levels 4 to 7) – equivalent to a Higher National Diploma (HND).
4. Degree/professional (levels 5 to 7) – equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. At this level of apprenticeship, you will combine classroom learning – lectures, seminars and independent study, with on-the-job training and end with a fully accredited degree. This also gives you the option to progress to Master’s level.

• Apprenticeships are for everyone – You do not have to be a school leaver to apply for an apprenticeship. They are open to people of all ages and many businesses welcome applications from mature applicants, valuing the fact that they would bring to their company a wealth of knowledge from previous work, as well as invaluable life experience.
• Learning – During your apprenticeship, you will learn the same things as students at university. It will likely be a better learning experience in terms of witnessing first-hand the reality of the job and having the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge with practical delivery simultaneously. This is very attractive for employers who – upon completion of your apprenticeship – know that you are fully trained to carry out the specific role, without requiring a huge amount of training and draining company resources.

What apprenticeship is right for me?

After you have spent some time looking, you will know that you have found the right apprenticeship if you find yourself excited to apply!

It is worthwhile approaching companies and businesses directly if you feel that it is the right ‘fit’ for you – in today’s job market, it pays to be bold and take some initiative. Spend time honing your application and tailor your cover letter to appeal to the company and their ethos and business objectives.

Before you submit your application, spend time researching the company so that you know the right questions to ask.

Think about:

• Staff testimonials – have a look on their website and look into job satisfaction and the testimonies of current or previous employees – this will give you a good indication of what the company is like to work for. A happy employee = happy working environment
• Career progression – does the company foster an environment of progression and support their staff in this respect? This is very important because it will allow you to plan your own career path following the apprenticeship.
• Study time – Look into the specifics of the apprenticeships; how much time is allocated to study versus working hours? Does it seem manageable and fair to you?

How to find an apprenticeship

There are lots of different ways to find apprenticeships. Services are available such as the National Apprenticeship Service or Career Finder via UCAS which will give you a huge variety of options and help you begin your search.

University open days and UCAS exhibitions host employers and apprentices that are armed with the knowledge and experience to guide you in your search. It is also important to spend time looking into different sectors and thinking about your suitability and existing skillset. Larger businesses and companies will likely have a section on their website relating to apprenticeships so you can conduct a search independently and hone your applications accordingly.