The Student Room Group

Is £16,000 a year good for a 16 year old?

This would be for an apprenticeship after gaining 12 GCSEs predicted 9s in 9 and an 8 in one (with two extras) and additional mathematics as another qualification.

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That is extremely well paid for an apprenticeship, is it with a big company?
Other questions which matter more than money at the early stage of your career (because you can live on that)
Is what training do they give, what’s career progression like and what responsibilities will you have in the apprenticeship.
Reply 2
Yes that is definitely a lot more than what the average 16 year old gets
Yes
Reply 4
It's with a big company(International) and would be Civil Engineering (specifically Highways). I would be studying toward an extended BTEC in Civil Engineering and I would be able to move on after two years to a Higher/Degree Level Apprenticeship and possibly a full-time role. I know it's ambitious but I'm planning on doing Maths and Further Maths A-Levels in my own time on the side too. Since I'm still living with my parents - living costs isn't an issue but I'm just worried about later on because I live in London.
Original post by Themysticalegg
That is extremely well paid for an apprenticeship, is it with a big company?
Other questions which matter more than money at the early stage of your career (because you can live on that)
Is what training do they give, what’s career progression like and what responsibilities will you have in the apprenticeship.
Original post by yay2202
It's with a big company(International) and would be Civil Engineering (specifically Highways). I would be studying toward an extended BTEC in Civil Engineering and I would be able to move on after two years to a Higher/Degree Level Apprenticeship and possibly a full-time role. I know it's ambitious but I'm planning on doing Maths and Further Maths A-Levels in my own time on the side too. Since I'm still living with my parents - living costs isn't an issue but I'm just worried about later on because I live in London.

You have hit the jackpot and you have a far better plan than most people do at 16 including myself at your age. My friend works for Atkins and he knows the apprentices get treated very well and have career progression. What counts at the moment for you is to get qualifications and experience and you get both with this, and you even get some savings if you're living at home! If I could go back I would of chosen an apprenticeship like you are now as I was one of the 'lucky' ones in terms of employment from university. I worked for an international company and got paid the same as you as an intern last year. (21) :lol:
(edited 4 years ago)
Reply 6
That's very comforting to hear. :u: I have just had doubts recently because my current school has arranged several meetings with me trying to dissuade me from taking this path (an apprenticeship) - they seem to frown upon it and kept throwing the stats at me of how many students they've got into Russell Group universities which is fair enough but I am not as privileged financially as most of the students that attend the school. I have 10 days to accept this offer and I've just had mixed opinions from everyone I've spoken to.
Original post by Themysticalegg
You have hit the jackpot and you have a far better plan than most people do at 16 including myself at your age. My friend works for Atkins and he knows the apprentices get treated very well and have career progression. What counts at the moment for you is to get qualifications and experience and you get both with this, and you even get some savings if you're living at home!
Original post by yay2202
That's very comforting to hear. :u: I have just had doubts recently because my current school has arranged several meetings with me trying to dissuade me from taking this path (an apprenticeship) - they seem to frown upon it and kept throwing the stats at me of how many students they've got into Russell Group universities which is fair enough but I am not as privileged financially as most of the students that attend the school. I have 10 days to accept this offer and I've just had mixed opinions from everyone I've spoken to.

Ok this is why I hate schools, this was a problem in my day and still makes me angry to this day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:Going to a RG university doesn't even guarantee employment?!?!??!?!?!?!? Whilst this is an apprenticeship from an international company who are willing to get you into a degree level apprenticeship where tuition will be paid for and you might end up in a 'RG' university anyway :lol: One of my friends at an apprenticeship in the West Midlands is doing their MEng apprenticeship at the University of Birmingham. I think your school should be reminded you are not only getting paid to work, but your tuition is being paid for, you are also getting WORK EXPERIENCE which is so important in differentiating yourself from others. (There's a spam of graduates every year...) Sorry this just turned into a rant I honestly think you should take this apprenticeship. There's looking down on apprenticeships and then there's another level when you get looked down for at taking an apprenticeship at an international company that most graduates won't even end up at. :rofl: I live in a house with two Civil Engineers, I'm Business but we are all graduating at international companies at just under £30,000 and we are also loaded with less work experience, more debt, and probably lower pay than you when you are 22. (rightly so) I know other people who believed in the power of RG and ended up in very low paying jobs.
(edited 4 years ago)
Your school are probably trying to maintain their own reputation getting as many of their students into top universities as possible - it might be a statistic which they care about for telling parents what a good school they are, to secure their funding, and their place in the rankings, etc. None of those things are any of your concern. In this case I wouldn't necessarily assume that they have your interests at heart.

You will also find some people have a very over-inflated opinion of what it means to get into a Russell Group university, and while going to a high-ranked university is generally positive for a lot of students who get there, it's certainly not the high-water-mark achievement that some people like to believe, and it doesn't automatically lead to success later in life either. On the other hand, the apprenticeship you've been accepted on to sounds like a great opportunity to get training in a high-skilled engineering job; realistically speaking those types of jobs are far more dependent upon skills and experience than your educational background.

Also, the option to go back to full-time education will never be closed if you decide that you'd like to study something later on in life, so you have nothing to lose by accepting the apprenticeship.
(edited 4 years ago)


I love how we're playing bingo with civil firms. :biggrin: WSP OMG <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Original post by thestudent33
Lol, I was curious because I'm applying for that position also :smile:


Smart. :h:
Reply 11
Original post by Themysticalegg
Ok this is why I hate schools, this was a problem in my day and still makes me angry to this day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:Going to a RG university doesn't even guarantee employment?!?!??!?!?!?!? Whilst this is an apprenticeship from an international company who are willing to get you into a degree level apprenticeship where tuition will be paid for and you might end up in a 'RG' university anyway :lol: One of my friends at an apprenticeship in the West Midlands is doing their MEng apprenticeship at the University of Birmingham. I think your school should be reminded you are not only getting paid to work, but your tuition is being paid for, you are also getting WORK EXPERIENCE which is so important in differentiating yourself from others. (There's a spam of graduates every year...) Sorry this just turned into a rant I honestly think you should take this apprenticeship. There's looking down on apprenticeships and then there's another level when you get looked down for at taking an apprenticeship at an international company that most graduates won't even end up at. :rofl: I live in a house with two Civil Engineers, I'm Business but we are all graduating at international companies at just under £30,000 and we are also loaded with less work experience, more debt, and probably lower pay than you when you are 22. (rightly so) I know other people who believed in the power of RG and ended up in very low paying jobs.


Original post by winterscoming
Your school are probably trying to maintain their own reputation getting as many of their students into top universities as possible - it might be a statistic which they care about for telling parents what a good school they are, to secure their funding, and their place in the rankings, etc. None of those things are any of your concern. In this case I wouldn't necessarily assume that they have your interests at heart.

You will also find some people have a very over-inflated opinion of what it means to get into a Russell Group university - going to a high-ranked university is not not the high-water-mark achievement that some people like to believe, and it doesn't automatically lead to success later in life either. On the other hand, the apprenticeship you've been accepted on to sounds like a great opportunity to get training in a high-skilled engineering job; realistically speaking those types of jobs are far more dependent upon skills and experience than your educational background.

Also, the option to go back to full-time education will never be closed if you decide that you'd like to study something later on in life, so you have nothing to lose by accepting the apprenticeship.

Yes, I've thought of these things too. It's a shame though, because before my school started to intervene my parents were very supportive of this option but now - after listening to all the things my school said (including how many students have gone to RG and even Oxbridge) they're not so convinced. :s-smilie:
Original post by yay2202
Yes, I've thought of these things too. It's a shame though, because before my school started to intervene my parents were very supportive of this option but now - after listening to all the things my school said (including how many students have gone to RG and even Oxbridge) they're not so convinced. :s-smilie:

It's funny how if you ask what employers think they will probably lean towards preferring apprenticeships. :biggrin: I'm not a criminal by any means but I REALLY want to throw a brick at your school, it's actually angering me. The thing is what you have now is guaranteed. Going to Oxbridge depends on a lottttt of factors. Even afterwards to give you a taste of graduate employment for big international companies from personal experience. (They may do this for apprentices also)

1. CV and Cover Letter
2. Situational Judgement Test
3. Numerical Reasoning test
4. Diagrammatic test
5. Verbal Reasoning Test
6. Sometimes initial phone interview
7. Video interview
8.Assessment Centre (One even flew me out to Europe for it :biggrin:)
9. Sometimes final panel interview

It's just so competitive for example at the video interview stage for BAE, they said well done for getting to this stage there was many many thousands of applicants I think. :lol: With the Civil Service Graduate Scheme I think like 50,000 apply a year or something outrageous. :awesome: Reasons why not to go the graduate route.
(edited 4 years ago)
Reply 13

Not that specific one (Building Services) - they seem to have removed some of the adverts they had before - but yes it's with WSP :biggrin:

I would be working with the Highways Team.
(edited 4 years ago)
Reply 14
Original post by thestudent33
Lol, my parents want me to do A-levels but I wanna do an apprenticeship so I'm in a similar postion. I'm persuading them slowly slowly tho :biggrin:


Original post by thestudent33
Lol, I was curious because I'm applying for that position also :smile:


Oh yes, good luck! Don't worry about it they're so lovely throughout the application process :h:
Reply 15
Original post by thestudent33
Nice, so they've already offered you a place?

The one I posted is recruiting for only one position so competition is gonna be tough :frown:. I applied to another civil eng one with Balfour Beatty tho so hopefully I get that!

Yep, they have. It's quite a long process, but I have learned so much from it because I've never done anything like it before. I don't know how many people applied. I also guess it has something to do with job vacancies in the region you would be working in :rolleyes:
You two make me proud. :u:
Reply 17
Original post by thestudent33
True, what region are you working in? I'm applying for the roles at the London offices


Same as me :smile: When I went for my interview it seemed that on that day they'd interviewed 4 or 5 other prospectives - but I think this included Higher/Degree Level as well as Advanced (which is what I would be doing)

I put myself down as available for both of the offices because they're roughly the same travelling distance from me.
Applied after dead line. Early March, they fee fee status, asked for my certificates this week and spoke with the admission team and said they will get back to me soon but the wait is just crazy.
Original post by thestudent33
When did you apply? The closing date for mine is 31st of May
Reply 19
Original post by thestudent33
When did you apply? The closing date for mine is 31st of May


17th of March and then a couple of days later I got an email to complete a video interview for a deadline and a few days after that I got a call from someone on the Recruitment Specialist Team who arranged an in-person interview at the office I would be working at and I got the offer a week later :yy:

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