Apprenticeships – An Overview

Combine paid work and qualifications with an apprenticeship. Look Beyond.

There are more apprenticeships open to you than you could ever imagine – with no tuition fees to drag you down. You can get an apprenticeship in anything from town planning to engineering, social media or childcare – the list is endless! An apprenticeship can be a great way to solve the Catch 22 of employers wanting young people to have work experience AND qualifications. Find out more…

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid training programme that combines working for a salary with learning that leads to a nationally-recognised qualification.

If you’re aged 16 or over, you can apply for an apprenticeship and get paid to do a job and build work experience while getting qualified for a career. Apprenticeships last a minimum of a year, and can last up to four years depending on the nature of the apprenticeship. They are currently available in all the 15 main business areas.

What types of apprenticeships are there?

There are 4 types of apprenticeships to suit your level:

• Intermediate (Level 2) – equivalent to 5 GCSEs
• Advanced (Level 3) – equivalent to 2 A-levels
• Higher (Level 4/5) – can lead to Level 4 qualification or foundation degree
• Degree (Level 6/7) – equivalent to bachelor’s or master’s degree, with no tuition fees.