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Frequently Asked Questions
To find out more about Apprenticeships here are
some answers to some of your commonly asked questions:
What happens during the
application process?
Are there different types of
Apprenticeship?
How long does an
Apprenticeship take?
How do Apprenticeships work?
How much do I get paid?
What sort of person is
accepted on an Apprenticeship?
Do I get holidays?
What qualifications do I get
when I've finished my Apprenticeship?
How do NVQs relate to other
qualifications?
Which Apprenticeships are
most in demand?
How do I get started on an
Apprenticeship?
What is the BTEC National
Award for IT Practitioners (ICT Systems Support)?
Am I eligible for an Apprenticeship?
There are no set entry requirements for Apprenticeships. Interview and initial assessment
will identify eligibility on the course. The main requirements
are enthusiasm, motivation and commitment.
You just need to be living in England, aged 16-24
and not taking part in full-time education. If you start an
Apprenticeship before your 25th birthday, you can continue until
you have completed it. Funding is available if you are aged
16-18. You will need to be be employed for an Advanced
Apprenticeship.
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What
happens in the application process?
You
will need to complete an application form and return it to the
centre. You can also approach an employer who takes on
apprentices and see if they are willing to give you a job.
The selection process is just like any other job application
process. You could be put through interviews and even asked to
take tests to see if you're the right person. This process can
be carried out by both the ITeC and employer, so you need to be
prepared to sell yourself and convince others that an
Apprenticeship is for you. After all, there's no such thing as
an automatic place; employers can refuse to take you on if they
don't think you're right for the job.
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Are
there different types of Apprenticeship?
Yes,
there are different types of Apprenticeship available. Which
Apprenticeship is right for you will depend on your experience
and the opportunities in your area. However, all Apprenticeships
include the following basic elements:
-
An
appropriate National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at either
Level 2 or Level 3;
-
Key Skills qualifications, e.g. communication and using IT
-
A
technical certificate such as a BTEC or City & Guilds (not all
frameworks require you to complete a technical certificate)
-
Other qualifications or requirements as specified by the
particular occupation. Apprenticeships can also be a
stepping-stone to university.
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How
long does an Apprenticeship take?
There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship as they vary
widely in content and size. The length of time taken will depend
on the ability of the individual apprentice and the employer's
requirements. An Apprenticeship will usually take anything from
12 to 24 months. Some might take less, but some Apprenticeships
can take up to five years, so a large degree of commitment on
your part is necessary to see it through.
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How
do Apprenticeships work?
You
will spend time with an employer who will give you on-the-job
training which allows you to achieve a National Vocational
Qualification (NVQs). You'll also spend time gaining key skills
that'll be useful in the job market - like working in teams,
problem-solving, communication and using new technology. In
addition, you'll study for a technical certificate, which will
give you further knowledge and understanding of your job. The
amount of time you'll spend studying varies; it can be anything
from 100 to 1,000 hours over the course of your Apprenticeship,
depending on your chosen profession.
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How
much do I get paid?
It's
difficult to say, but it's often no less than other new entrants
to work. Most apprentices are employed and paid a wage; if not
you may receive an allowance in the form of EMA (Education
Maintenance Allowance), for a short period until you are
employed (conditions may apply) That's a pretty good deal,
considering that your employer is also investing their time in
your future. Like any other employee, you'll still have to pay
tax.
For further information on EMA please visit
this website
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What
sort of person is accepted on an Apprenticeship?
Applicants need to be:
-
Serious
-
Committed
-
Able to show that you have fully researched the area of work
you want to do, and you're the right person for the job
-
Aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the
company who would employ you
-
Prepared for further study
-
Realistic about the amount of work you may have to do
-
Happy to work as both part of a team and an individual Able to
use your own initiative
Apprenticeships can be demanding, but very rewarding. It's not
just a question of seeing what is out there and then selecting a
career path. It helps if you are focused enough to know what you
want to do before you apply.
If you're the right person for an Apprenticeship, being an
apprentice can help you achieve your goals. It's a great
opportunity, but may not be suitable for everyone. Do you have
what it takes to be an apprentice?
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Do I
get holidays?
Like
many other employees, you will receive at least 20 days holiday
per year (and bank holidays). Your individual entitlement will
be detailed in your terms of employment or training agreement.
Just like any other job, your employer will have rules about how
far in advance holidays need to be booked, and times that
holidays cannot be taken.
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What
qualifications do I get when I've finished my Apprenticeship?
You'll get a package of qualifications when you finish your
Apprenticeship - a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), a
technical certificate such as a BTEC National Diploma or a City
& Guilds Progression Award, and Key Skills qualifications.
Apprenticeships lead to either an NVQ Level 2 or an NVQ Level 3
(view
progression chart).
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How
do NVQs relate to other qualifications?
There are five levels of NVQ: (view
equivalency chart)
-
Level 1 = 5 GCSEs at grades D-G
-
Level 2 = 5 GCSEs at grades A-C
-
Level 3 = 2 A levels/1 vocational A level
-
Level 4/5 = HNC, HND and degree level
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Which Apprenticeships are most in demand?
Some of the most popular Apprenticeships at
present are Engineering, Business Administration, Construction
and Hospitality. But choosing the Apprenticeship for you is like
choosing a job - some types of job are difficult to get into
because they are so popular. You need to be realistic.
Qualifications in Media Studies are quite popular at present,
even though there are very few actual jobs available in the
media sector.
But doing an Apprenticeship means you need to
find a job in that field before you begin learning. You may want
to contact companies direct to get some work experience or speak
to a Personal Adviser at Connexions by calling 080 800 13219 or
visiting their website. You
might also want to take a look at what Apprenticeships are
available in 'List
of Apprenticeships.'
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How
do I get started on an Apprenticeship?
You'll need to think carefully about the field of work in which
you want to train. You must complete your Apprenticeship to get
the qualifications, so you need to make sure that you're serious
about your chosen career and can commit yourself to what
is usually a long period of training and study.
Download an
application form, complete it and return to us and
we will invite you in for an interview.
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