Choices 2012

Employment and Training

If you are considering leaving full-time education to enter work or training, you need to look at the range of opportunities available to you. Many of the most exciting opportunities include gaining qualifications that will help you progress in your chosen career.

The world of work is changing fast so it’s a good idea to look at how the opportunities available now will also help you in the future. A good wage in a job with little training might not offer any prospects for the future. It might be better to find a job that offers training that is nationally recognised – the more you learn the greater your earning power will be in the future.

Apprenticeships

Professor

As an apprentice you will:

There are different levels of apprenticeship. The level that you start at will be determined by your experience and qualifications and what is available locally.

Apprenticeships - no set requirements but some GCSEs at D or above are often expected. You will be employed, earn a wage and work towards a Level 2 qualification.

Advanced Apprenticeships – usually requires four GCSEs A*- C. You will be employed, earn a wage and work towards a Level 3 qualification.

There are also higher level apprenticeships available in some job areas where you can work towards a Level 4 qualification and beyond. Don’t forget that some apprenticeships lead to degree level study.

Apprenticeships usually involve being employed full-time and you may be released on certain days to go to college or training may be in the workplace.

There may be pre-apprenticeships courses available in your area. These provide personalised learning and employment programmes and individual career planning supported by employers. Successful students may have the opportunity to progress to a Level 2 apprenticeship.

There is a National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices and from 1 October 2011 all apprentices will be paid a minimum of £2.60 per hour. However, as you progress, your wages may increase – in fact, research has found that apprentices earn an average of £170 per week.

The apprentice NMW applies to all 16 to 18 year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship.

If the apprentice reaches 19 and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship their employer must pay them at least the full NMW rate for those aged 18 to 20.

You can search for apprenticeships on www.apprenticeships.org.uk and apply online.

Case History Apprenticeship

I’m good at maths and physics, like taking things apart to see how they work and helping my brother keep his car going. I’ve always lived near the airport and been interested in planes so I applied for an apprenticeship in Aircraft Maintenance. I had to go for an interview and take a test at college. I got a place and for the first year you are in college where you learn practical and theoretical aircraft maintenance skills because they can’t just let you loose on an aeroplane engine! If you do well at the end of the first year, you are interviewed again to start as a proper apprentice. I passed my first year and am now working as an apprentice with part-time study at college. Once I’ve finished the apprenticeship I could get a permanent job or I might go on to study at university. It’s really good that I can keep my options open.

Ali aged 18