Thinking of studying an apprenticeship? Don’t let the myths put you off. Before you make that all important decision about your next steps, we’ve put together some of the misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships to put the record straight.
An apprenticeship is on the job training and is indeed a real job! You’ll be doing important tasks just like everyone else in your team; the only difference being is that you’ll be getting a little extra training and study time alongside your workload.
The best thing about an apprenticeship is that you can start at any time during the year. As long as you’re 16 years old or above and you’ve finished Year 11, you can start an apprenticeship at any time. All you need to do is find the vacancy that is right for you and apply!
Although the national minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.50 an hour, most employers actually pay much more than this. Even if you do get the minimum wage, that’s still more than £400 a month which is better than nothing.
Yes you can study an apprenticeship in plumbing or engineering, but we have a wide variety of apprenticeships available in lots of different industries and subject areas. From legal administration to pharmacy assistants we have something to suit all interests.
Did you know as an apprentice you can study all the way up to university-level? That’s right; you can now study a higher apprenticeship which is equivalent to a university degree. Plus with industry experience you’ll be able a step ahead of the rest.
Some employers actually prefer apprentices over university graduates. Think about it – graduates may have the qualifications but haven’t got any experience in the industry. Apprentices have both.