What is an apprenticeship?

On an apprenticeship, you're employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification – you will study for your formal qualification at a college or training provider. As an apprentice you will:

• Be an employee earning a wage from day one
• Work alongside experienced staff / trainers who will guide/ support and teach you 
• Gain job-specific skills

By the end of your apprenticeship, you will have gained the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your chosen career or progress onto the next apprenticeship level. What you learn and study for will depend on the qualification and apprenticeship pathway you are on. However, apprentices in every role follow an approved study programme, which means you'll gain a nationally-recognised qualification at the end of your apprenticeship.

These qualifications can include:

• Functional skills - GCSE-level qualifications in English, maths and IT.
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) - from Level 2 (comparable to five GCSEs) up to Level 5 (similar to a postgraduate degree).
• Technical certificates - such as BTEC, City and Guild Progression Award etc.
• Academic qualifications - including a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND), foundation degree or the equivalent of a full Bachelors degree.

During your apprenticeship studies you will be constantly be developing transferable skills, these are things like; teamwork, communication and problem solving to name a few.

To find out more about apprenticeships in general and all the different apprenticeships on offer then head to the national apprenticeship service website to discover more.