Are you considering your options after GCSEs or A-Levels? Have you heard of apprenticeships or degree apprenticeships but are uncertain whether they are the right path for you?
As an apprentice, you will split your time between working for a business and studying nationally recognised qualifications. Each scheme is designed to prepare you for a specific career in a particular sector.
Here are three main reasons why an apprenticeship may be a suitable fit for your career objectives:
You’ve already decided on your professional path
University is an excellent chance to discover what you want to achieve while studying a subject that interests you.
However, it is critical to keep your options open since the path you choose must be the right one for you. There are now over 15,000 job opportunities available in around 170 industries, including banking, engineering, and law. If you already know what profession you want to pursue, it is worthwhile to investigate all possibilities available to you within your selected field.
You’re sick of sitting in a classroom all-day
Would you like to exchange textbooks for workbooks? Do you prefer a more hands-on approach to learning?
As an apprentice or degree apprentice, you will work on real-world projects that will significantly impact the world. Of course, working for an employer is not the same as completing your coursework on time. Still, an apprenticeship is an excellent opportunity to learn the skills required to succeed in your chosen career.
Before you jump ship, remember that as an apprentice, you’ll spend at least 20% of your time in off-the-job training, which means you’ll be learning academic theory in the classroom while putting it into practice in the workplace. Depending on the strategy, this may include obtaining industry-relevant qualifications. So, don’t throw away your pencil case just yet.
You want to be self-sufficient financially
You will be paid a salary and have access to employee perks such as paid holiday and pension contributions from the start. The National Minimum Wage for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour. However, several businesses pay their apprentices more, with those in banking and finance earning an average of £20,218.
If you want to obtain a degree but don’t want to take out a student loan, you may enrol in a degree apprenticeship, which allows you to study for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree while working full-time for a business. You will not have to pay for your degree since the government and your employer will finance it.
So, is an apprenticeship the right path for you?
You are the only one who can choose which path to choose.