Apprenticeships

As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off the job, usually on a day-release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. If you live in England and are 16 years-old and over, and not in full-time education, then you can apply to be an apprentice. Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. The minimum salary is £2.68 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more. Apprentices do real jobs for real employers. So you’re paid while you learn. If you are entering work for the first time, you will start earning from day one of your Apprenticeship. There is no set rate of pay for apprentices, however all employed apprentices must receive the minimum salary level outlined above. However, the average wage per week for an

Those who started university in England in 2012 could well face a debt of £60,000 by the time they graduate, Whereas those who embark on an apprenticeship don’t face this fear of massive debt.

In fact, there aren’t any tuition fees for apprenticeships to pay – and the salary you earn whilst you do your apprenticeship provides you with money to live on, rather than racking up large debts in order to survive.

Apprenticeships are designed with the help of the employers in the industry, so they offer a structured programme that takes you through the skills you need to do a job well.

There are targets and checks to make sure that your employer is supporting you and you are making progress.

As an employee you will be in employment for most of your time as most training takes place on the job. The rest usually takes place at a local college or a specialist training organisation.

You can complete this off-the-job training on day release or over a number of days in a block. The amount of time you spend varies according to your Apprenticeship.

It could be anything from one day every other fortnight to two days every week. So all the things you study will be useful in your job and help you succeed in your future career.

You can earn while you learn, and learn in a way that is best suited to you – through hands-on experience on the job. Key benefits of being an apprentice include;

1. earning a salary
2. getting paid holidays
3. receiving training
4. gaining qualifications
5. learning job-specific skills

Apprentices learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money all at the same time.

You work towards a work-based qualification such as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and other nationally recognised qualifications.

Employers all over the country recognise and value Apprenticeships as they show that you’ve been trained in the skills they need.

Apprenticeships typically take between one and four years to complete, depending on the type of Apprenticeship and the level. The length of time taken will depend on the ability of the individual apprentice and the employer’s requirements.

Apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as the gold standard for work-based training.

There are over 85,000 employers offering Apprenticeships in more than 130,000 locations; there are almost 200 Apprenticeships suitable for hundreds of job roles.

NWSA are funding specialists and always have an option available to you to ensure you and your employer do not pay towards your Apprenticeship

Kick-start your career 

Employers have reported that they prefer having the choice of training an apprentice and developing them within their company, rather than taking on a graduate with only classroom-based skills.  There’s the potential to get a head-start in your career, and the only limit is your ambition.