The concept of apprenticeships as we know them in the UK date all the way back to medieval times, where young people would be taught a craft or trade by a master in a specific field of expertise.
As time has gone by, apprenticeships have evolved into what they are today and although much has changed, the fundamental idea remains the same – apprentices earn money whilst learning on-the-job in order to acquire the necessary skills required for their future career path.
Traditional stereotypes of apprenticeships are commonly associated with teenagers finishing school to pursue a manual trade. In this guide, alongside Newcastle College, who offers its apprentices good guidance according to the Newcastle College Ofsted 2018 report, we explore the biggest changes to apprenticeships over the last decade and why it’s time to drop those stereotypes.
Apprenticeships aren’t the ‘easy option’
When you finish school at 16, there are now a number of different routes for you to choose from. Whether you choose to pursue A-Levels, vocational study or an apprenticeship, none of those routes are the ‘easy option’ or signify that someone isn’t clever enough to do one of the alternatives.
Although A-Levels are traditionally a more academic and theory-based option that allow you to study a range of different subjects, vocational study tends to lean towards one specific area of interest, so you can focus all your time and attention on something you’re really passionate about. It includes a lot of hands-on learning and gaining work experience, alongside study in a college.
Apprenticeships are just another form of vocational study. It means learning while you’re actually doing the job that you’re being paid for, but you’ll also spend at least 20% of your time during an apprenticeship studying for and completing work related to your job role, which can be tricky to balance!
Apprenticeships are also available at a number of levels, including degree level apprenticeships, which were introduced in 2015. You can now even study an apprenticeship at a level the equivalent of a master’s degree!
What’s worth remembering is that people learn in different ways and everyone is different.
You can do any kind of job on an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships find their traditional roots lying in manual trades, with many apprentices pursuing careers in manufacturing or engineering. This is because these roles are very practical and require a lot of hands-on skills which are often best taught ‘on-the-job.’
Yet, apprenticeships can be undertaken in numerous more fields, including professional office-based roles. Did you know you could do apprenticeships in roles such as theatre, digital marketing, web development, sales or even law?
Digital marketing agency Mediaworks recruits four new apprentices annually to help them gain new skills and give them the opportunity to progress into full-time employment. Will Hill, now a junior planner within the company, progressed through their apprenticeship scheme in 2018. “I chose to go down the apprenticeship route because I wanted the real-world experience and to earn while I was learning,” he said. “It’s opened doors for me that would otherwise not have been possible so quick and it has put me ahead of the competition as I’ve been taught vital skills and gained experience.”
Obviously, traditional engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships are still available as well, but the field has greatly diversified to enable those with various skills and interests to pursue an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship isn’t working for free
What makes an apprenticeship particularly attractive is being able to earn while you learn. If you’re under 19, or over 19 and in the first year of your apprenticeship, you’ll be paid a minimum of £3.70 per hour. Over 19s must be paid the minimum wage for their age after they’ve completed their first year.
Depending on the company and the type of apprenticeship available, many of these offer higher salaries. Furthermore, once you’ve completed your apprenticeship, there’s a chance you may be kept on in a permanent role by the company you’ve been working for.
Apprenticeships aren’t just for 16-year-olds
As a legal requirement, apprentices must be a minimum age of 16 years old, live in England and not be in full-time education, but there is no upper age limit at all.
Apprenticeships are open to people of all ages and could be a great opportunity for people who are thinking of a career change or wishing to upskill in their current careers. Even if you have a degree or other qualifications, you can still apply for an apprenticeship.
So, if you’re still wondering which steps to take after leaving school or pondering on the idea of how you can get into favoured career, bear an apprenticeship in mind. You could get a qualification, experience and a wage while you’re doing it!