JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 54

APPRENTICESHIPS

decide in which area you want to find
an apprenticeship. There are thousands
of vacancies spanning a broad range of
industries, so think about areas of work
you feel passionate about and have an
interest in, as well as the subjects you
enjoyed and did well in at school.
Your current qualifications will dictate
the level of apprenticeship at which
you'll start, but some allow you to work
your way up through higher and degree
levels, depending on the career sector.

How long does it take to
complete an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships take between one
and five years, depending on the
level at which you are studying (for
details of levels, see box right).

If you're aged 16 to 24, your employer
and the government will meet the tuition
fees of your apprenticeship
Apprenticeship levels

There are four main levels of apprenticeship, which have equivalent educational levels
Name

Level

Educational equivalent

Intermediate

2

GCSE

Advanced

3

A-level

Higher

4,5,6 and 7

Foundation degree and above

Degree

6 and 7

Bachelor's or master's degree

The minimum wage for an apprentice
is £3.70 per hour, which applies to
apprentices under the age of 19 or those
over 19 in their first year of training. After
the first year, those over 19 are entitled to
the national minimum wage; those aged
over 25 are entitled to the national living
wage, which is currently £7.83 per hour.
If you're aged 16 to 24, your employer
and the government will meet the tuition
fees of your apprenticeship, although
you'll need to cover your day-to-day living
costs such as rent, travel and food.

How can I boost my chances of
being accepted on a programme?
Competition for apprenticeships can
be fierce, especially within high-profile
or prestigious organisations. If you
can, volunteer or get work experience
in the area in which you're interested
before applying, so you can add it to
your CV and show potential employers
you are committed to that career path.
Make sure all relevant qualifications,
skills, previous employment and
courses are near the top of your CV,
demonstrating the value you'll add to the
organisation. Remember, it's about what
you can offer to potential employers,
rather than the other way around.
Proofread your application and
ask someone else to look over it too
- it's amazing what fresh eyes will
pick up. When you're 100% happy,
hit send. Welcome to the first day
of your professional career!
5 4 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Case study

Kyra Koven, 19,
is undertaking a
contact centre
apprenticeship
with the Financial
Conduct
Authority

I was looking for
finance and law
apprenticeship
opportunities on
gov.uk's Find an
Apprenticeship
page and found
the FCA's scheme.
I think the impact
the FCA has on
the financial
service industry is
really interesting,
so I applied.
I studied
psychology,
English literature
and business

studies at A-level,
as well as a level
3 certificate in
financial studies
and an AS-level in
media studies, so I
went in at level 4.
The most
challenging
aspect of my
apprenticeship
is managing my
time. I do full-time
work hours and
study for my
qualification on
top of that. It's
pretty intense,
especially when
there are exams
approaching,
but it has really
improved my time
management and
it's so rewarding
when it's all done.
My confidence
has soared since

Find out more
* Apprenticeships apprenticeships.org.uk
* Get In Go Far getingofar.gov.uk
* UCAS ucas.com/apprenticeships-in-the-uk

taking on this role.
I receive frequent
feedback and
training, and it
has really helped
my development.
I think an
apprenticeship
is a great idea
for a career
in finance. I'm
getting industry
experience while
completing a
qualification
and can put into
practice what
I learn almost
straightaway.
I'd recommend
the route I've
taken. It will
help me get the
experience I need
for a job I really
want in finance,
without having to
go to university.

SOURCES: BBC NEWS, GOV.UK

How much will I get paid while
doing my apprenticeship?


https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships http://www.GOV.UK http://apprenticeships.org.uk http://getingofar.gov.uk http://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships-in-the-uk

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
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com