Become an apprentice
With or without Alan Sugar’s approval, becoming an apprentice could be the next step in your career!
Apprenticeships are training programmes that allow you to work (literally!) towards a qualification. It can be a great way to get your foot in the door of a specific industry, building your ‘hands on’ knowledge and experience at the same time!
We’re here to help you decide if an apprenticeship could be the right choice for you.
· Earn while you learn. Hopefully you’ll be paid a salary by your employer. While it may be a slightly lower than those in full time work, it’s some pennies in your pocket and you’ll gain your qualification with no tuition fees or student loans- that means no debt!
· Choice. With over 400 types of apprenticeship on offer from business to sport, marketing or construction there is a career to inspire everyone! Search for your ideal apprenticeship here! Still not sure where to begin? Visiting Prospects may help- take their career quiz to help guide you.
· Variation. Hitting the books all day sound like a drag? An apprenticeship means you’ll spend most of your day gaining practical experience- with only a little studying on the side.
· Be 5 steps ahead. Getting into employment earlier means there’s lots of potential for you to progress in your career quickly. You can also begin to earn a good salary much earlier on in your life.
Sadly no one is perfect and that does apply to apprenticeships too. Apprenticeships cannot gain you access to certain careers such as medicine or law. If you do want to access careers such as these, you need to seek a degree apprenticeship which can take much longer than traditional studies.
Starting salaries for graduates also tend to be higher. A 2014 Labour Force Survey showed, on average, those with a degree earned more per hour than those with an NVQ- level qualification. It’s important you weigh the benefits and drawbacks carefully, deciding overall if an apprenticeship could be the pathway for you.
