Apprenticeships Explained

  • Vocational qualifications gained through job or placement
  • Applied learning
  • Portfolio of evidence and reflective accounts
  • Practical assessments
  • Real working experience while gaining a qualification

An apprenticeship is where you work for an employer, gain real life working experience, gain a qualification in that particular industry and earn money at the same time! This could be with a large employer or a one-person business.

You may study for your qualification on-site or at a local college or training provider usually once a week – it will depend on the type of opportunity.

If you pass 5 or more GCSE at grade 4 or above you enter an Advanced Apprenticeship.

If you achieve grades 1-3 you can enter into an Intermediate Apprenticeship (sometimes Intermediate Apprenticeships require grade 4 at English and Maths GCSE)

Choosing an apprenticeship

Explore different types of apprenticeships below…

Things to consider

Some students feel that they are ready to go out to work aged 16 and sometimes know what they want to do for a career at this age, however here’s some things to consider:

  • You will need to be ready for the adult working world
  • You’ll be expected to deal with with customers and clients
  • You’ll be answerable to a boss
  • Less time off than school
  • Being around work colleagues who may be 5 to 40 years older than you!