Decided that college or sixth form is not for you? Why not train, learn and earn? An apprenticeship gets you trained on the job in a work based environment and you earn whilst you learn.

What are Apprenticeships?

An apprenticeship is a way of combining working for an employer, earning a wage and at the same time learning new skills. You get a foot in the job market and the new skills you have learned and the nationally recognised qualifications that you have gained make you more employable in the future.

Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices' ability and the industry sector.

Training for your qualification may be undertaken where you work, or for many apprentices is done off-the-job, often on a day-release basis.

Who are they for?

Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16years-old whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years or are seeking to start a new career. You just need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.

Different industries or sectors sometimes have different entry requirements and often there are a lot of applicants for places, so you will need to show that you are keen, and aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the company who would employ you. You also need to be happy to work as both part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.

What kind of apprenticeship can I do?

There are now nearly 200 types of Apprenticeships across many sectors. The right one for you will depend on your interests, your experience and the opportunities in your area. Search our database of apprenticeships to see what is available in your area by clicking here.

What will I earn?

There is no set rate of pay for apprentices, however all employed apprentices must receive a wage of no less than £2.60 per hour. However the average wage per week for an apprentice is now around £170 and in some job roles around £210 per week.

As your skills develop, your pay will increase accordingly. You may also get additional money for essential books, clothing or equipment, or to help you with a disability. As an apprentice, you will also receive the same benefits as other employees such as pension contributions, subsidised canteen and leisure facilities.

Also, research shows that apprentices earn, on average, over £100,000 more throughout their lifetime than other employees.