Apprenticeships for School Leavers
If you’ve just left school and aren’t sure whether you want to go into further education
or start looking for a job, you may want to consider an Apprenticeship.
Frequently Asked Questions about Apprenticeships
We are asked a lot of questions about Apprenticeships. Click on the most commonly asked questions to find answers or,
if your question isn’t listed phone us on 0845 52 12345 or via email at business@southessex.ac.uk
What are Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are work-based learning courses that allow you to earn a wage while gaining practical and transferable
craft skills alongside a nationally recognised qualification. As an Apprentice, you work for a company as a paid employee,
alongside more experienced members of staff, and your training is tailored around your employer’s needs so that you learn the
skills the employers are looking for which will give you the advantage is the ever more competitive job market.
How do Apprenticeships work?
As an Apprentice, most of your time will be spent at work where you will be trained on the job by your employer.
Outside of work, you will attend College on a day release or over a number of days in a block where your practical
training will be validated by in-class learning which covers the theory relevant to your particular Apprenticeship
(for example: Health & Safety) as well as Functional Skills.
Are Apprenticeships equivalent to other qualifications?
We offer Apprenticeships at two levels. The standard Apprenticeship is a Level 2 course (equivalent to five GCSE passes)
that aims to develop essential job-related skills. The Advanced Apprenticeship, which is a Level 3 course (equivalent to
two A-levels), involves building on those skills, usually within a management or supervisory role.
What are the advantages of Apprenticeships for school leavers?
Apprenticeships are a good option for school leavers as they will train you for a career in a specific industry whilst at
the same time allowing you to keep your options open to continue your studies later on, should you choose to. As an Apprentice you will:
- Get paid
- Receive paid holiday allowance
- Be trained for a specific job or industry
- Get work experience
- Gain job-specific and transferable skills
- Get a nationally-recognised qualification
Apprenticeships cost a lot less than some other education options, which means you can get the skills you need to succeed without having
to borrow a lot of money. As Apprenticeships are equivalent to a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, they can also offer an alternative
route to gaining a degree. The combination of practical skills and a degree-level education can lead to high level jobs at an early age.
Who can do an Apprenticeship?
Anyone can be an Apprentice. The only requirement is that you are at least 16 years of age, aren’t already
in full-time education and that you have a good general standard of Maths and English.
What Apprenticeships are available?
Through our links to key employers across the region, we offer some of the most diverse
Apprenticeships in Essex, click the link for our full list of Apprenticeship courses.
How long does it take to complete an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete (though the majority of Apprenticeships are completed within one to two years),
depending on the Apprenticeship, your level of ability and the industry you are working in.
What qualifications do I need to do an Apprenticeship?
As our Apprenticeship frameworks are so diverse, there are no commonly agreed entry requirements as they
depend on the Apprenticeship framework you want to do. For more information about the entry requirements
for a specific Apprenticeship course, click the link of the Apprenticeships you are interested in.
How much does Apprenticeship training cost?
The good news is that if you are 16 – 18 years old, the government will fully fund the cost of your Apprenticeship training.
Funding may also be funding for Apprentices aged 19 years and over, depending on individual circumstances.
Click here for more information about Apprenticeships for adults.
What will my working hours be?
This will vary from Apprenticeship to Apprenticeship but as a paid employee you be working for at least 30 hours a week.
How much will I get paid?
As an Apprentice your employer must pay you at least the minimum wage for Apprentices, which is £2.60 per hour. However,
this is a minimum and many employers will pay more than this.
What companies can I work for?
Through our strong links to industry, our Apprentices have worked for some of the biggest and most up and coming organisations in the country,
from small businesses all the way up to multinational corporations. These are just a few of the companies our Apprentices have worked for:
- Abraxa
- Chelmsford Theatres
- HM Revenue & Customs
- HSBC
- Jamie's Italian
- London Southend Airport
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Royal Opera House
- The Park Inn by Radisson
- Thames Ambulance Service
- YMCA
Click the link to find out what employers have had to say about our Apprentices!
Can I do an Apprenticeship if I already have a job?
Absolutely, so long as your employer agrees.
I’m interested in doing an Apprenticeship, how do I get started?
Firstly have a think about what sort of Apprenticeship you’d like to do and do some research on the job opportunities available in that industry.
For more specific information about our Apprenticeship courses, call us on 0845 52 12345 and asked
to speak with the Business Development Team (or via email at: business@southessex.ac.uk).
You can also see what companies are currently recruiting Apprentices by registering
with the Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service
and searching for vacancies in the Essex area.