The Benefits of Being an Apprentice
Over the last few years, the Government has increased the pressure on organisations to provide more chances for people to become Apprentices and to also provide career advice and support to young people who are perhaps unsure of what to do when they leave school, to provide people with experience within an industry that they want to work in after college/ university or to help those who are older retrain and get back into work.
The Benefits of Apprenticeship
There are a great number of benefits that being an Apprentice can bring you, not least that you can earn whilst you learn, with the main focus being on learning through hands on experience, which is very different to just getting a normal job, yet you still get to perform real tasks and deal with real life working scenarios.
Whilst the rate of pay is lower than you would get for a conventional job, you must remember that you are receiving training at the same time, which is highly valuable and will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. You will also usually receive pay increases as you develop more skills, plus you’ll be supported monetarily when you need to buy any specific equipment or clothing for work and you can expect to have the same advantages that your colleagues will be getting, such as pension contributions or subsidised entry to the gym or canteen.
A Boost to Your Employment Chances
Apprenticeships are highly valued as employers recognise that Apprentices have worked hard towards their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and have real experience of the industry. Employers will even value Apprentices far above those who, although they may also have a relevant qualification, have no valid experience to show for it. As Apprentices are trained from the start to have the skills that are needed, employers see no point in wasting time training up someone else.
Government Recognised Schemes
You get a lot of support through being an Apprentice, as not only will you be joining a Government recognised scheme but ultimately your employer’s job is to make sure that you are being trained appropriately and that the training fits your own personal requirements. You must have certain skills for the job and have to be able to pass your qualification. Therefore any difficulties or problems that you might experience will result in increased support.
After you have finished your Apprenticeship, you will find that you have a wealth of prospects and this is because employers will know that you have the skills that are required to do the job and that they will not have to invest a lot of time or money into training you up to a certain standard. You can even go on to do more training if you want to, as Higher Education Institutes will happily offer you a place on a Degree course based on the skills and qualifications you gained as an Apprentice.
Career Goals
Another excellent benefit is that there are so many options available to you when choosing an industry to be an Apprentice in, ranging from FTSE 100 companies, to smaller companies found in your local area. All you need to do is find one that is right for you, which will ultimately depend on what you are interested in and what your career goals might be.
Adam Hesketh looks after Worcester apprenticeships; at the Worcester Technical College. When he isn’t blogging about educational matters he’s often found on the golf course or on the tennis court. His first serve is ledendary.