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An apprenticeship is a real job with training which allows the apprentice to earn a salary while they learn, and gain a nationally recognised qualification. They are offered in over 1,500 job roles in a wide range of industries.
Apprentices are employed throughout their training and the costs are shared between the government and the employer. As employees they are issued with a contract of employment and are entitled to the same benefits and conditions as other workers. They must be paid at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage and work for at least 30 hours per week. They are entitled to receive 20 days paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays. An apprenticeship takes between one and five years to complete, depending upon the level of apprenticeship and the industry sector.
Apprenticeships are designed by employers in the industry sector. The training is specifically tailored to the skills and knowledge required to be a success in that industry. This gives apprentices a real advantage as not only do they have better long term salary prospects, but they also have excellent progression opportunities, whether looking to study further or climb the career ladder within the workplace.
Structure
Most apprenticeships are made up of three elements. Competency covers the work-based skills, technical knowledge addresses the underpinning theory which is usually delivered and tested at a college, and functional skills which are general numeracy, literacy, IT and employability skills.
There are different levels of apprenticeship that can be undertaken, depending on existing skills and qualifications:
Intermediate apprenticeship (level 2)
Advanced apprenticeship (level 3)
Higher apprenticeship (levels 4-7)
Degree apprenticeship (levels 6-7)
All apprenticeships start at a Level 2, or Intermediate Apprenticeship. Once this is achieved the learner is able to progress onto Advanced Apprenticeships (Level 3) and in some cases onto a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) after that.
Employability Skills
A skills gap threatens the sustainability of businesses around the world. Those leaving the education system often lack the workplace skills that employers want, such as problem solving, team working and communication.
Employers across all industries are looking for more than just academic qualifications. An offer of employment will often depend on the additional skills offered to complement any academic achievements. Employability skills are becoming increasingly important to employers who look for a wide range of skills, attributes and knowledge. Apprentices start to develop these skills from the moment their apprenticeship begins and this puts them a step ahead in a highly competitive job market.
Engineering Apprenticeships
There is a massive shortage of engineering skills in this country and in order to meet demand there is a need to attract a greater talent pool into engineering over the next five to ten years. There has been particularly strong growth in the take up of engineering apprenticeships in recent years and this is seen as the way forward.
The engineering sector currently employs 5.4 million people across 542,440 engineering companies. It is predicted that by 2020 engineering companies will have 1.86 million job openings which will require engineering skills. Current intermediate level apprenticeship vacancies available are:
These positions offer good benefits in terms of pay, time spent training, level of skill imparted, and the prestige and future career opportunities. Additional funding from the government will result in 20,000 higher apprenticeship places in professional careers such as engineering over the next three years. This will offer solid progression routes for those starting an apprenticeship now.
Traineeships
Traineeships are designed for unemployed young people aged 16 to 24 who want to get an apprenticeship or job but lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for. Many employers offer both traineeships and apprenticeships so it may be possible to progress to an apprenticeship with the same employer.
Traineeships are unpaid and last from six weeks to six months. A high quality work placement is central to the training programme which aims to develop workplace skills. It also covers work preparation skills such as CV writing, interview preparation, job search skills, self-discipline and inter-personal skills. English and maths are included along with industry specific content and vocational qualifications.
Higher Apprenticeships
Following an apprenticeship route does not mean the end of a university education. The growth of higher apprenticeships offers an alternative to traditional university study, with the opportunity to gain professional skills, status and accreditation, all while in a job and earning a salary. This is a new route into a professional career which was once only available to graduates. Research has found that top apprentices have higher earning capacity during their lifetime than many university graduates.
Traditional study at university involves a minimum of 3 years with a lot of classroom study and lecture attendance and very little hands-on work in industry. Those starting a university course now are predicted to graduate with at least £60,000 of debt due to the rising cost of tuition fees and living expenses. Understandably many students do not want to start their working careers with these crippling debts. Higher apprenticeships offer a great alternative to a traditional full-time university degree. Learners split their time between college or university and the workplace. They can earn as much as £300 to £500 a week, receive on and off the job industry training, gain degree level qualifications and have many progression opportunities available to them. All without paying hefty tuition fees or running up student debts.
In the past apprenticeships were seen as the only option for those not achieving the grades to progress to university. This is no longer the case. There are some very challenging apprenticeship schemes available, with tough application processes and fierce competition for places.
Higher Level apprenticeship numbers are rising steadily. There were 19,800 Higher Level apprenticeship starts in 2014 which is up 2% on the previous year. The growth in the number of higher apprenticeships advertised over recent years can be seen in the following graph:
The UK government is committed to expanding the number, range and quality of apprenticeships that offer training to degree level. The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April 2017 which requires all organisations to either take on apprentices or pay a percentage fee of their wage bill which will go towards funding apprenticeships. The levy aims to fund three million apprenticeships in the UK by 2020. Higher apprenticeships are widening access to professional careers and building the high level technical skills needed for the jobs of the future.