Am I eligible for an Apprenticeship?
What happens in the application process?
Are there different types of Apprenticeship?
How long does an Apprenticeship take?
How do Apprenticeships work?
How much do I get paid?
What sort of person is accepted on an Apprenticeship?
Do I get holidays?
What qualifications do I get when I've finished my Apprenticeship?
How do NVQs relate to other qualifications?
Which Apprenticeships are most in demand?
How do I get started on an Apprenticeship?
There are no set entry requirements for Apprenticeships. You just need to be living in England and not taking part in full-time education.
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There are two ways to apply for an Apprenticeship. You can approach an employer who takes on apprentices and see if they are willing to give you a job. You can also apply through the Learning and Skills Council, who will put you in touch with a training provider who will then try to match you with an employer.
The selection process is just like any other job application process. You could be put through interviews and even asked to take tests to see if you're the right person. This process can be carried out by both the learning provider and employer, so you need to be prepared to sell yourself and convince others that an Apprenticeship is for you. After all, there's no such thing as an automatic place; employers can refuse to take you on if they don't think you're right for the job.
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Yes, there are over 180 different Apprenticeships on offer. Which Apprenticeship is right for you will depend on your experience, your interests and the opportunities available in your area.
However, all Apprenticeships include the following elements:
- An appropriate National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at either Level 2 or Level 3;
- Key Skills qualifications, e.g. working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology;
- A technical certificate such as a BTEC or City & Guilds (relevant to your Apprenticeships);
- Other qualifications or requirements as specified by the particular occupation.
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There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship as they vary widely in content so the length of time taken will depend on the ability of the apprentice and the employer's requirements.
An Apprenticeship will usually take anything from 12 to 36 months. Some might take less, but some Apprenticeships, like Engineering for example, can take up to four or five years.
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Apprenticeships are a mixture of on and off the job training, on the job you will work with a mentor learning skills on site. Off the job, you will spend time with a learning provider, working towards an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or 3.
You will gain key transferable skills - like working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology as well as studying (in most cases) for a technical certificate, which will give you further knowledge and understanding of your job.
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, depending on your chosen profession.
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As an apprentice you must be paid at least £80 per week as this is a condition for employers offering Apprenticeships. You may well be paid more than this and the amount will depend upon the sector you work in, your age and where you are in the Apprenticeship. In 2005 the DfES surveyed employers to find out what wages they are paying the average wage across all sectors was £137 per week with the highest wages being paid in the electro technical sector, averaging £187 per week. Full details can be found at the dfes website (PDF 417KB) 
You can expect your wages to rise as you progress on your Apprenticeship in line with the skills and experience you have gained. What we do know is that achieving an apprenticeship adds thousands of pounds to your earning potential.
The University of Sheffield carried out research among apprentices who had finished to assess the value of an Apprenticeship over their career. They calculated the value to the individual of an advanced apprenticeship at an average of £105,000 and an apprenticeship of £73,001. These figures compare favourably with those of a degree. Full details can be found on dfes website
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All sorts of people, from all walks of life, are working towards or have successfully completed an Apprenticeship, in order for success an element of commitment is required and expected on your part.
Apprenticeships can be demanding, but rewarding. You need to work out what Apprenticeship will suit you best, something as simple as do you want to work indoors or outdoors could be enough to help you compile a shortlist of Apprenticeships that could work for you.
Being an apprentice has enabled many people to achieve their career goals and it can do the same for you, visit the success stories page to find out about Apprenticeships from real apprentices.
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Like all employees, you will receive at least 20 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays). Your individual entitlement will be detailed in your terms of employment or training agreement. Just like any other job, your employer will have rules about how far in advance holidays need to be booked, and times that holidays cannot be taken.
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You'll get a package of qualifications when you complete your Apprenticeship:
- a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or 3;
- a technical certificate such as a BTEC National Diploma or a City & Guilds Progression Award; and
- Key Skills qualifications e.g. working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology.
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There are five levels of NVQ:
- Level 1 = equivalent to five GCSEs at grades D-G
- Level 2 = equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A-C
- Level 3 = equivalent to two A levels/one vocational A level
- Level 4/5 = equivalent to HNC, HND and degree level
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Some of the most popular Apprenticeships at present are Engineering, Business Administration, Construction and Hospitality. Choosing the Apprenticeship for you is like choosing a job - some types of job are difficult to get into because they are so popular, or are only available in certain areas, so you need to be realistic and seek out what is available in your area, or an area you would be willing to travel to, before setting your sights on one particular Apprenticeship.
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You'll need to think carefully about what Apprenticeship you would like to do, what suits your personality and how you like to work. This will enable you to produce a shortlist of Apprenticeships that could be right for you. Visit the How to Apply page for more information.
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