Being an apprentice
What's it really like?
There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship because each one is different.
How fast it goes also depends on the individual apprentice and the employer's needs but on average an Apprenticeship takes between one and three years, although some, such as engineering, can take up to four to five years.
What’s expected of you
As with any job you will have to show enthusiasm, a level of dedication and have a professional attitude. Your working hours will be agreed with your employer, as will your wage and how this will increase as you progress through your Apprenticeship.
As you will be working towards an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or 3, you will need to manage any course work this will require. You will also spend time with a learning provider to work towards your Key Skills qualifications, such as working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technologies and in most cases towards a relevant technical certificate.
You will need to be committed to the off the job learning element of your Apprenticeship to succeed.
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How work and study are divided up
The balance between on and off the job learning depends on the type of Apprenticeship you do. It also depends on your employer, for example you may get time off work on certain days to go to a learning provider, often a local college or your employer may be an accredited learning provider so this element may be carried out on site.
The amount of time you'll spend studying varies. It can be anything from 100 to 1,000 hours over the course of your Apprenticeship.
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