Advance to a full-time position with the organisation.

After completing their apprenticeship, 87% of firms hire their apprentices full-time. After 12-18 months of working for the organisation, you will have developed a connection with your boss and mastered your job duties. By the completion of your Apprenticeship, you should have a firm grasp on how the company operates and be a productive part of the team.

Your employer will have dedicated a significant amount of time to your apprenticeship. So the thought of them not wanting you in the company is not just a waste of their time, but also of yours. They have taught you all you know about the business, helped you develop your abilities, and helped you become a useful member of the team. This implies you should be able to jump right into future roles or promotions.

Finish your higher apprenticeship qualification.

After completing your current apprenticeship certification, you may be able to advance to a higher level in your chosen area. Your employer may even urge you to learn more about your industry. This allows you to learn more about your field while also looking great on your resume! It also conveys to present or prospective employers that you are dedicated to expanding your expertise.

There are several paths you can pursue depending on the qualification you obtain. Someone who completes a business administration apprenticeship, for example, may go on to complete a sales or business management apprenticeship.

Finish your qualification and begin something new.

All of our work-based credentials provide you with the skills you need to get a career in your chosen field. This implies you can earn your qualification and then transfer it to another organisation to start something fresh. This certificate is so adaptable and offers you critical skills that you may use in any industry if you finish an advanced level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration.

If you want to complete an apprenticeship in sectors such as Childcare, Business Admin, or Customer service, the skills required are more specialised. They can, however, lead you down a variety of pathways and show you where you may go in the future.

Earn while you learn

It’s more than likely there will be two paths ahead for you when considering your future after school; further education through university or becoming an apprentice.  It’s well known that going to university can be an expensive route, with some people predicted to leave university with a debt of £30,000 when they graduate.

Becoming an apprentice means you’re learning the trade and earning a qualification all whilst earning a living.  You won’t have any debts to pay in terms of tuition fees as the government will fund 100% of your training costs. There is also no age cap to doing an apprenticeship, as long as you are over the age of 16, you can begin an apprenticeship course at any time.

Even though the pay may be low when you start your apprenticeship, this will increase as you progress.  Figures show that on average a person with an advanced apprenticeship can earn between £77,000 and £117,000 more over their lifetime than others with similar Level 2 qualifications.

Recognised Qualification

The qualification you will be working towards are nationally recognised qualifications.  There are three levels of apprenticeship:

• Level 2 – This is known as an intermediate apprenticeship and is equivalent to 5 GCSE passes. Apprentices at this level work towards NVQ Level 2, Key Skills, or a BTEC.
• Level 3 – This is an advanced apprenticeship that is equivalent to two A-level passes. A person can either start straight away at Level 3 if they have 5 GCSE passes at grade A* – C, or they can progress after they have completed their Level 2 apprenticeship.  Apprentices at this level work towards NVQ Level 3, Key Skills, or a BTEC.
• Level 4 and above – These higher apprenticeships mean the person is working towards an NVQ Level 4 or a Foundation degree. They can then progress onto higher education if they wish.

Hands on experience

Becoming an apprentice will give you real experience of working in your chosen career, as opposed to studying and reading about it in textbooks.  You will also learn other important employability skills, such as CV writing and interview techniques, as well as teamwork and communication skills.  Working as part of a team in a business will mean you are learning from proven professionals already in the industry and you can benefit from their experiences and knowledge.

Foot in the door

According to government statistics released ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, 90% of apprentices stay in employment once they have qualified, with 71% staying with the same employer.  For those who aren’t able to stay with the same employer, you will still have at least a year’s worth of experience in the industry and it’s more than likely you will have built up a list of contacts whom you, or your employer, could reach out to.  Having hands-on experience will mean that you will stand out against any other applicants who may not have done an apprenticeship.

Progression opportunities

Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to work your way up in a business, with 23% of former apprentices claiming that they were promoted within 12 months of qualifying.  Employers may prefer to hire an apprentice as they can train them from the start of their career, meaning they are willing to take the time to invest and develop from within.

Employee benefits

Even though you are an apprentice, you will be an official employee, and therefore will enjoy all the benefits that employees do, such as an employment contract, paid holiday, sickness entitlements, pension contributions etc.

Benefits include actual work experience, developing social skills in a working environment, and a new level of understanding for a working environment. Also, recent stats have shown that University students could be left with £53,000 worth of debt, as a grant becomes a loan. Whereas no financial commitment is required as an apprentice.

A third of degree students are working in undergraduate jobs, whereas 65% of apprentices will be employed full-time by the company they completed their apprenticeship with. Many companies now consider apprentices to be the most employable of young people in today’s job market. First-hand learning environments and practical experience give apprentices the edge over graduates in interviews, some have expressed concerns that graduates are not “workplace ready”, while apprentices can adapt easier to the environment.

Comparison

University                                                                       Apprenticeship

Increased earning potential                                 Earn whilst learning

Study an interesting subject                                Gain qualifications and work experience

Decide on a career                                                    Learning in a fun and interesting work environment

The primary thing you need to ask yourself is: are you ready to go to work? If the answer is yes, then you’ve probably already decided university or further education isn’t for you and that an apprenticeship might be better suited to your requirements.

You’re then going to need to determine if you can get to your chosen career through an apprenticeship. Most courses offer qualifications right up to degree level with no limitations on where you have to complete them.

If you find the course you want to do, you then need to determine where you want to do your apprenticeship. Do some investigation into what’s around, which training providers offer the qualifications you want and which companies are already advertising for apprentices.

Remember, once you’ve finished your apprenticeship you have many various career options. You can stay on with your current employer, you can use your experience to secure yourself a job elsewhere or you can advance on to a higher apprenticeship or degree course. Apprenticeships give you plenty of chances to continue climbing the career ladder with 1 in 5 employers saying they have former apprentices in senior management jobs.

If you’re still having difficulties, speak to a training provider or another apprentice – they’ll be able to give you first-hand information of what it’s like to be an apprentice.

1. Make sure your CV includes information about why you would like to work within the industry you are applying to. Managers are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about the job role.
2. Make sure that you fill out your application fully so your recruiter can find you the best placement. Try to include as much information as possible!
3. Keep your phone close by so that you can answer phone calls about vacancies, interviews or even job offers! When looking for a job, make sure that you answer the phone politely and get back to your recruiter as soon as possible.
4. Be honest. If you’re not interested in a certain vacancy, tell your recruiter, they can help you find a role that is most suited to you.
5. If you cannot attend an interview, let your recruiter know as soon as possible. They might be able to reschedule for you. Remember that interviews are a crucial part of job applications, so don’t cancel unless you absolutely have to!
6. Talk to your recruiter if you’re nervous about your interview. They’ll give you tips to make sure you do as well as possible. This includes turning up on time, dressing smartly and keeping your phone on silent/off during the interview.
7. Make sure you do test runs to your workplace prior to starting there, so you know whether it’s a commutable distance. You’ll be making this journey roughly 5 days per week so you need to make sure you’re not going to be too tired out from all the travelling and that it is a suitable distance from your home.
8. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an apprenticeship after the first one you apply for. You will find the perfect apprenticeship for you!

How apprenticeships work

Funding is drawn down by the training provider to pay for the training.  Aspire Training Team will try and match a business with an apprentice. Sometimes businesses will seek out training providers to help them find an apprentice. Sometimes an apprentice will get in touch with the training provider to find an apprenticeship.

16-18 year olds

If you fall into this age bracket then you are eligible to get all of your training funded. This is arguably the best position to be in as both employers and apprentices don’t have to pay anything towards the training.

19-23 year olds

If you’re 19-23 then part of your apprenticeship will be funded. The rest either has to be put up by the employer or the apprentice. This can cost thousands of pounds depending on the apprenticeship; the more technical an apprenticeship, the higher the training costs.

24+

If you’re 24 or older then you can apply for an advanced learning loan.  To find out more about the advanced learning loans, please contact us on 01202 649646 or email us at info@aspiretrainingteam.co.uk