What is an apprenticeship and where can it lead?

Apprenticeships are real jobs with training – so you can really boost your job prospects by learning skills and getting work experience at the same time.

Apprenticeships:

• Last at least 12 months
• Include at least 20% (roughly one day a week) off-the-job time for study related to your role

Starting salaries vary depending on your age, the company you’re working for and the level of your apprenticeship. The minimum apprenticeship wage is quite low, but many schemes pay more. With all apprenticeships there are no course fees and you get paid holidays too.

Most of your time on an apprenticeship is spent learning by doing, with support from your work colleagues – people with the very job you’re training to do. You also study towards recognised qualifications. This is often for a day a week at a local college (sometimes called day release). Your study time helps you develop skills and background knowledge relevant to your job.

There are four main levels of apprenticeship so you can choose to learn at a level that suits you.

Around a quarter of apprenticeships are at intermediate level, equivalent to GCSEs.

You can also take advanced-level apprenticeships, and higher and degree-level apprenticeships.

With hundreds of roles in subjects from animal care to IT, apprenticeships can open the door to a wide range of jobs and industries.

In recent years, numbers of higher and degree apprenticeships have increased. Apprenticeships in subjects such as business consulting, tax, and a range of NHS professions, now offer alternative routes to university for many careers.

Apprenticeships have also become popular with different age groups – around half of people starting an apprenticeship are over 25.

There are different types of apprenticeship so find out the key details of any scheme that appeals to you:

• How long will your apprenticeship last?
• What will you learn?
• What is an average day like?
• What will you study and what qualifications will you have at the end?
• What are your likely options when you finish?
• What happens if you don’t complete your course?

You’re not guaranteed a job with your employer at the end of your apprenticeship, although they may offer you a permanent role. Even if your apprenticeship provider has a track record of employing apprentices, you may not get the opportunity to stay on. In some cases, there are more apprenticeships than jobs, so try and consider your future options before you start.

Investigate if your apprenticeship could lead to a job with another company. What opportunities are there for a qualified apprentice in your area of work?

Overall, only around half of all apprentices finish their course. There are different reasons why this might be. If you’re interested in a particular apprenticeship, check what percentage of apprentices usually complete the course. If the completion rate (sometimes called the achievement rate) is low, it may be worth looking at something else.

Weigh up the benefits and disadvantages of any options you are considering. While it’s easy to compare things such as immediate costs or earnings, it’s more difficult to compare future prospects. Different factors affect people’s outcomes and schemes such as degree apprenticeships have not been around long enough to compare long-term prospects between apprenticeship and university routes.

For tips on comparing your options see:

Choosing well: how to pick the right path for you and

Eight questions to help decide if university is my next step.

Watch icould apprenticeship videos

Search the Find an apprenticeship service to find apprenticeships in England.

Apprenticeships website.