Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 (funding available may vary locally). They give ambitious young people like you the chance to get out into the real world and start your career as soon as you’ve left school.

With an Apprenticeship you will have a real job and be working towards qualifications whilst you are at work. This means that you will be learning essential skills directly relevant to the job you are doing, to a standard set by the industry itself.

So, what will you do as part of your Apprenticeship?

During your Apprenticeship you will receive training, both at work and at one of our training centres. The training will ultimately make you a skilled worker and will contribute to you gaining a number of qualifications.

There are four parts to an Apprenticeship:

• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) – achieved through the tasks you do at work, NVQs are proof of your ability and practical skills.

• Key Skills – general skills that are used in every job such as Communication and Application of Number.

• Technical Certificates – designed to improve your knowledge and understanding of specific topics related to your trade.

• Employment Rights and Responsibilities – a workbook for you to do to help you understand your rights and responsibilities as an employee, and your employer’s responsibilities towards you.

An Apprenticeship is equivalent to 5 GCSEs and includes an NVQ at Level 2.

An Advanced Apprenticeship is equivalent to 2 A-Levels and includes an NVQ at Level 3. This is the next step on from an Apprenticeship but you may be able to go straight onto the Advanced Apprenticeship, depending on what qualifications and experience you already have.