Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great way to “earn as you learn”. They provide vocational training and qualifications whilst working in your chosen career. Apprenticeships are open to anyone over 16 and generally take between one to four years to complete depending on what qualifications you undertake during your contract. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), key skills qualifications and technical certificates such as BTECs are the most common. These sorts of accreditation can provide a vocational route to higher education rather than academic courses such as A-Levels.

Apprenticeships usually pay a trainee salary of a minimum of £95 per week and most pay increases as you train and your skills improve.

The National Apprenticeships website has all the information you need to make an informed decision. It provides you with excellent basic information as well as with a search for vacancies.

An Internet search on apprenticeships will enable you to identify ones in specific sectors – direct from the employers.

As apprenticeships have close links with government policy, a good place for general advice is DirectGov. Here you will find all the basic information you should need regarding apprenticeships including “how to apply” and the qualifications available.

More specifically, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has information on their “skills for growth” policies.

The National Careers Service is the government provided site that offers a wealth of careers information. Check out their Job profiles pages.

Apprenticeships.org site also lets you search national apprenticeship vacancies.

Another useful guide on apprenticeships is provided by Edexcel.

If you’re unsure if an apprenticeship is right for you, the following video might be helpful in outlining the whole package and benefits - Guardian Jobs ”Are apprenticeships a good idea?”

Skills for Growth is the UK national strategy for apprenticeships - to create a modern class of technicians.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has made a grant to fund a wide range of Skills for the Future apprenticeships, which train in a variety of heritage related skills; from curatorship to stone masonry.