JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 53

APPRENTICESHIPS

Want to
learn on
the job?
If the ability to bring home money as
you study is important, consider an
apprenticeship. There are thousands
available in a huge number of careers

WORDS CLAIRE LAVELLE IMAGES GETTY IMAGES

Which industries offer
apprenticeships in the UK?
Sports coaching, hairdressing, business,
animal care, aviation, marketing, social
media, sales, IT, engineering, finance,
media... if a career in any of these
industries appeals to you, the good
news is they all offer apprenticeships.
The top three sectors for this method
of gaining qualifications are business,
administration and law; health,
public service and care; and retail.

How many apprenticeship
programmes are available?
Nearly half a million people (491,300)
started an apprenticeship between
2016 and 2017, and there are around
23,000 opportunities listed every month.
The government plans to increase
funding of apprenticeships to £2.5bn by
2019/20, twice what it was in 2010.

What are the main benefits of
doing an apprenticeship?
There are so many! As well as gaining
job-specific skills, you'll get paid to
study (usually one day a week) and your
employer may also cover your travel
expenses to get to college. You'll work
alongside experienced staff, gaining
expert industry knowledge and those
all-important contacts, while at the
same time earning a salary and getting
paid holidays. It's a package that makes
apprenticeships very appealing, especially
in a competitive job market where
experience is everything - and given the
spiralling cost of a university education.
There's nothing to pay when you
undertake an apprenticeship - your
training costs are funded by the
government and your employer. What's
more, nine out of 10 apprentices are
satisfied with their apprenticeship,
according to government figures.

What qualifications do I need
to start an apprenticeship?
In general, you don't need any specific
qualifications - you just have to be 16
or over. First, and most importantly,
J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 5 3



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
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