You will have heard that the government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training (Raising the Participation Age or RPA). This is not the same as raising the school leaving age – young people do not have to stay in school but have a choice about what they do between the ages of 16 and 18 years. Young people do need to continue in education or training but this could be full time study in school, college or even with a training provider. It could also be full time work or volunteering combined with education or training. Alternatively it could be as an apprentice.
But what is an Apprenticeship?
Apprentices all over Kent and the South East of England, as in the rest of the country, have a real job which enables them to ‘learn as they earn’. They also will have training which would give them a nationally recognised qualification. Taking somewhere between one and four years to complete and covering 1500 job roles in a wide range of businesses apprenticeships are now available up to degree level and beyond. Apprenticeships can be undertaken in a huge variety of different areas from accountancy to veterinary nursing, and from business and administration to engineering. We have many opportunities waiting to be filled in Kent and across the South East of England.
Why undertake an Apprenticeship?
How much will an apprentice earn?
The average gross weekly wage for an apprentice is £200. The minimum wage for apprentices is £2.73 per hour, but in reality many employers pay more than this. The actual amount that an apprentice will earn is very much dependant on the type of apprenticeship being undertaken, the region and the type of business involved. Some apprentices can earn as much as £300 – £500 per week for a Higher Apprenticeship.
What are the entry requirements?
Anyone over the age of 16, living in England is eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. The exact entry requirements depend on the job. English and maths GCSEs are not usually required but can be learnt ‘on the job’ as part of the training.
What different levels of Apprenticeships are there?
There are three levels of apprenticeship – Intermediate (level 2), Advanced (level 3) and Higher (level 4 or above). The main components are a nationally recognised vocational qualification, a BTEC or similar technical certificate, other professional qualifications as specified by the particular job and (for the intermediate and advanced levels) Functional Skills in maths and English.
So how do I apply?
You can go to www.apprenticeships.gov.uk where there can be as many as 25,000 Apprenticeship vacancies available at any time in a variety of careers and industries across England. You can begin your search by clicking on ‘How to Apply’ and ‘Apply Now’. Your son or daughter can simply register on the site when they see the right job and then follow the step by step instructions to apply for the role. There is also an app which you can download to your phone so that you can see vacancies whilst on the move.
Who can I talk to?
If you are living in the South East of England and would like to talk to someone about the possibility of an apprenticeship for you daughter or son you can call our team at Runway Training for a chat on 01732 402 402 or email us [email protected]
