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What are the advantages and benefits of doing an apprenticeship?

22

It's National Apprenticeship Week! :woo:

So, why should you do an apprenticeship? What are the benefits and where can it lead?

Paid to Learn
For starters, you can get paid to learn. Depending on the level of your apprenticeship, this may save you getting into student debt or it could help you gain that little more independence as you can pay for your own things.

Best of Both Worlds
Secondly, you’re combining the best of both worlds. An apprenticeship allows you to continue studying whilst applying what you’re learning directly in the workplace.

Make It Your Own
There’s the usual saying “you get out what you put in” and that’s totally true when it comes to apprenticeships. You have the chance to shape your own apprenticeship and pursue your interests. You may be given the opportunity to take on responsibility for different tasks, or the opportunity for further training and it’s up to you to make the most of it.

Develop Real-Life Skills
As an apprentice, you have the benefit of learning in and outside of the classroom. The skills you can develop will put you in good stead for further employment, studies and life in general. You’ll have a big opportunity in the workplace to develop your soft skills (such as communication, time management and networking) that will stay with you throughout.

These are just a few of the benefits, but what are your thoughts? How do you think an apprenticeship could benefit you? :holmes:

Feel free to comment below and we’ll update the post with any suggestions :smile:

Reply 1

mattyp502

7

All very true points! I’m a third year business apprentice at EY and love it. I get to work on all types of projects, developing all ranges of skills including leadership skills.

Also, you get to get ahead of your peers by doing an apprenticeship. By the time I’m 22/23, I’ll be a fully qualified chartered accountant. If you go through the Uni route, the absolute earliest will be 23/24, but normally 24/25 so I’ll be 2 years professionally ahead, but 7 years of professional experience vs 3 years which is a massive difference in work. That could be atleast 1 promotion, maybe close to 2!

Also, more and more employees are realising the potential of apprenticeships and there are more apprenticeships available than ever!

People should 100% look at apprenticeships as an alternative/better option to uni.

Reply 2

bushelboi

15

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

Reply 3

username4613962

19

Original post

by bushelboi

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

Limited to certain sectors, very competitive,etc. But imo the benefits outweigh all of the downsides.

Reply 4

akshayaax

11

Original post

by bushelboi

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

Some of them could take a lot of your time, like when others are going out, you might have to do attend the apprenticeship. However, the results are worth it as listed above.

Reply 5

Leslie Knope

20

Original post

by mattyp502

All very true points! I’m a third year business apprentice at EY and love it. I get to work on all types of projects, developing all ranges of skills including leadership skills.

Also, you get to get ahead of your peers by doing an apprenticeship. By the time I’m 22/23, I’ll be a fully qualified chartered accountant. If you go through the Uni route, the absolute earliest will be 23/24, but normally 24/25 so I’ll be 2 years professionally ahead, but 7 years of professional experience vs 3 years which is a massive difference in work. That could be atleast 1 promotion, maybe close to 2!

Also, more and more employees are realising the potential of apprenticeships and there are more apprenticeships available than ever!

People should 100% look at apprenticeships as an alternative/better option to uni.

Great post, that! If you don't mind me asking, does your apprentiship come with a degree, or is it a normal apprentiship?

Reply 6

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

20

•

Get paid

•

Learn usable skills that are pretty time durable

•

Interact with a wider range of people (from 16-60) have ability for social life with other apprentices and learn some wisdom & maturity in work

•

Often these skills lend themselves to people who wish to start their own business

Apprenticeships really are a great option imo, they are often better than a lot of degrees with low graduate employment.

Reply 7

mattyp502

7

Original post

by kingpin x

Great post, that! If you don't mind me asking, does your apprentiship come with a degree, or is it a normal apprentiship?

Hi - my apprenticeships gets me the CA (chartered accountant) with ICAS. It’s equivalent to a level 7 apprenticeship in England

Reply 8

Arden University

Official Rep

19

Original post

by bushelboi

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

@bushelboi
I work in an FE technical college so know a little about apprenticeships in the context of other courses. All the positives as stated above are true, and I would like to add that education will be going through quite a lot of changes in the UK, post something called the Auger Review (A government white paper was out about this the other week). FE college's that deliver apprenticeships are being encouraged to build stronger links with local communities and employers - therefore, an apprenticeship would gain you access to more opportunities. Employers are starting to value apprenticeships a lot more.

If you are 19+ the Government have just announced a Level 3 skills guarantee which means easier access in future to funding if you were interested in doing something like an Access to HE course, which covers Nursing, Engineering, Social Work, Pharmacy, Business (depending on the center's that you apply too)

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Reply 9

mattyp502

7

Also to add, EY have created a series of podcasts to help students understand various things about working at EY. They will shortly be on Apple and Spotify, but for now they can be found at www.eycareers.podbean.com

Reply 10

casiee__xo

14

Original post

by mattyp502

All very true points! I’m a third year business apprentice at EY and love it. I get to work on all types of projects, developing all ranges of skills including leadership skills.

Also, you get to get ahead of your peers by doing an apprenticeship. By the time I’m 22/23, I’ll be a fully qualified chartered accountant. If you go through the Uni route, the absolute earliest will be 23/24, but normally 24/25 so I’ll be 2 years professionally ahead, but 7 years of professional experience vs 3 years which is a massive difference in work. That could be atleast 1 promotion, maybe close to 2!

Also, more and more employees are realising the potential of apprenticeships and there are more apprenticeships available than ever!

People should 100% look at apprenticeships as an alternative/better option to uni.

do u get fed up of the apprentice and if for example u dont like it no more what do u do? do u got to uni or nothing? how much do u get paid?

Reply 11

brainzistheword

OP

22

Original post

by mattyp502

All very true points! I’m a third year business apprentice at EY and love it. I get to work on all types of projects, developing all ranges of skills including leadership skills.

Also, you get to get ahead of your peers by doing an apprenticeship. By the time I’m 22/23, I’ll be a fully qualified chartered accountant. If you go through the Uni route, the absolute earliest will be 23/24, but normally 24/25 so I’ll be 2 years professionally ahead, but 7 years of professional experience vs 3 years which is a massive difference in work. That could be atleast 1 promotion, maybe close to 2!

Also, more and more employees are realising the potential of apprenticeships and there are more apprenticeships available than ever!

People should 100% look at apprenticeships as an alternative/better option to uni.

It's fantastic to hear about your apprenticeship so far - and it sounds like you're enjoying it too!

I completely agree with the 'getting ahead' point. I finished my apprenticeship last year and realised that by the time most of my school friends finish university I will have been in industry for at least 5 years gaining so much experience and still being able to study.

Original post

by bushelboi

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

This depends on the sector, company etc. and what someone may view as a downside may not be one to others. For example, a 'low' wage might be negative for one person, but another may see the apprenticeship wage as a huge bonus compared to student debt. It's also subjective based on the type of work that you're interested in doing.

Are you considering an apprenticeship?

Original post

by mnot

•

Get paid

•

Learn usable skills that are pretty time durable

•

Interact with a wider range of people (from 16-60) have ability for social life with other apprentices and learn some wisdom & maturity in work

•

Often these skills lend themselves to people who wish to start their own business

Apprenticeships really are a great option imo, they are often better than a lot of degrees with low graduate employment.

Great points and I think the interaction with a wide range of people is definitely a massive benefit to apprentices. It gives you some great networks and it's interesting to see things from different perspectives.

Have you done an apprenticeship?

Original post

by mattyp502

Also to add, EY have created a series of podcasts to help students understand various things about working at EY. They will shortly be on Apple and Spotify, but for now they can be found at www.eycareers.podbean.com

This is great - thanks for sharing!

Reply 12

mattyp502

7

Original post

by casiee__xo

do u get fed up of the apprentice and if for example u dont like it no more what do u do? do u got to uni or nothing? how much do u get paid?

Honestly not really. Of course there are times when it gets tough, like in the lead up to exams or when there are work deadlines coming up, but generally it’s great.

I started on 17.5k in Edinburgh, and have averaged about 13% raises each year so far. Plus I’ve gotten a bonus of 10-15% of salary as well each year so far, but not all parts of the business get that, it depends on how well they did.

Reply 13

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

20

Original post

by brainzistheword

Have you done an apprenticeship?

No.
ive got a few mates who have done them.

Reply 14

brainzistheword

OP

22

Original post

by mnot

No.
ive got a few mates who have done them.

Ah fair enough! :smile:

Reply 15

ozzyoscy

21

Original post

by bushelboi

What are the down sides of doing an apprenticeship though?

When I looked at stuff like this years ago, it seemed a lot of the time a scam, a loophole. Like when companies put everyone on permanent probation by constantly renewing it, 0-hour contracts, getting a conveyor belt of unemployed people to work for free by calling it a 'trial' before tossing them etc.

I mean I remember looking on job sites and there'd be jobs not requiring experience where you'd be trained and learn on the job, like any other job, and of course offering a wage... then there'd be an 'apprenticeship' for the same job for £2 per hour. Gee, which to go for?

I did Google it, and first thing that came up...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-50973579

Half of apprenticeship courses in England have been accused of being "fake" by an education think tank.

The EDSK report says the apprenticeship levy - paid by big employers - is being used on low-skilled jobs or relabelling existing posts, rather than training.

So keep that in mind.

Reply 16

Gent2324

22

minimum apprenticeship wage is £4.15, but the good ones at large companies (that are after a levels) pay around 16-30k for your first year and then goes up by around 5-15% every year.

What are the advantages and benefits of doing an apprenticeship?

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