Sick of the classroom? Ready to get out into the world of work and start earning?
Apprenticeships are a great way to gain real-world experience within your chosen industry and work your way up, without having to spend hours in a lecture theatre.
Here are the top five reasons to consider an apprenticeship.
Earn and Learn
As an apprentice, you are an employee – meaning you earn a wage while working alongside experienced staff.
It might not seem like a lot at first – you can expect at least the minimum wage of £3.50, though many schemes do offer more. But it’s worth remembering that this is a ‘trainee’ wage. Once you qualify you’ll likely go on to earn a lot more, and you’ll have a head start on people that have spent three or four years at university (plus, you’ll have no student debt).
Relevant Experience
Apprenticeship schemes are developed by a college in conjunction with an employer, so you get the best of both worlds – learning from experienced professionals, as well as externally at a college
Build a network
Learning ‘on the ground’ gives you the opportunity to get to know people in the company you’re working with. Apprenticeships take around one to four years to complete, depending on the level, so you’ll have the chance to establish rapports with key contacts within the industry.
Nationally Recognised Qualification
Leaving the classroom doesn’t mean missing out on qualifications – you’ll just earn them in a different way. An apprenticeship is a work-based, nationally recognised qualification that is now available in multiple industries and job roles. Because of this, it’s transferrable – there’s nothing to stop you heading for a different industry later on.
The sky’s the limit
Apprenticeship qualifications don’t have to end at intermediate or advanced apprenticeships – many can progress to a degree level qualification.
If things go well, there’s always a good chance of being offered a full-time job within the company if they have shown a high level of enthusiasm for the role, so it’s a fantastic head-start into any career.