Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 53

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APPRENTICE

More women taking up
apprenticeships in
traditionally 'male'
sectors could help
bridge the pay gap,
according to research
by thinktank Demos

etting your foot
in the door can be
the hardest part
of any career.
You may have the
qualifications but
not the practical
experience, or vice versa. Or you may
prefer not to go to university, but need
to gain higher education qualifications
in order to bag the job you really want.
An apprenticeship is an ideal way to
get qualifications and practical skills at
the same time, leaving you steps ahead
of the competition in the future. You can
become an apprentice in practically any
industry, and you can apply directly, or
via the government apprentice search
service (www.findapprenticeship.service.
gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch). There are
up to 20,000 apprenticeships available
on the site, at any one time, managed by
the National Apprenticeship Service.

What to expect
As an apprentice, you'll work alongside
a team, gaining valuable hands-on
experience. You'll be paid a salary, which
should be at least the minimum wage,
earn holiday pay, and you'll also study to
gain a recognised qualification in your
field - normally one day a week at a local
college. Apprenticeships normally take
between one and four years to complete
and, once you've finished your training,
you can go on to further education or
employment. Apprenticeships come in

Apprenticeships
are available at some
of the most exciting and
innovative companies in
the country - including
ASOS, Boots, British Gas,
Google, ITV, Jaguar
and Sky

three stages: intermediate (the equivalent
of five GCSE passes); advanced (the
equivalent to two A-levels); and higher
(which can lead to an NVQ 4 and above,
or a foundation-level degree).
You will need to be over 16 to apply,
and not be in full-time education, so it's a
great option for school leavers who don't
really know what they want to do next,
but have an idea of the field they would

Case study
'I prefer the
vocational route'
Jack Ripley, 20, from East Sussex,
is studying for an NVQ3 in plumbing
and central heating
'I decided to become
an apprentice as
I didn't really know
what I wanted to
do when I left school.
I spoke to my mum
about it, and her partner works as a
plumber and said there was a lot of
work for plumbers in my area. He
offered me an apprenticeship with
his company. I've been going to
college once a week, and working the
other four days, for nearly two years,
and I've just passed my Level 2 NVQ.
I get a set wage of £200 per week.
'I'm planning to go on and do
Level 3, which will take two years' day
release. I'll then be fully qualified and
free to work anywhere as a plumbing
and heating engineer. I really enjoy
working in the construction industry.
I enjoy being on site and putting what
I've learnt at college into practice,
and I like chatting to clients as I get
on with people. The apprentice
route really works well for me, as
it 's mostly practical. I don' t enjoy
college-based learning as much
as I struggle with putting things
on paper. I' d recommend an
apprenticeship, particularly for
anyone looking at a hands-on trade,
such as construction, as experience
counts for more than formal
qualifications in this industry.'

J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 0 5 3
http://www.findapprenticeship.service http://www.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney

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