What Actually Happens During an Apprenticeship?

It's a real job

You might have heard the word "apprenticeship" plenty of times. But what does an apprenticeship actually look like on a normal Tuesday? Is it mostly studying? Are you working full-time? Do you go to college? Do you get paid?

On an apprenticeship you're employed by an organisation and spend much of your time doing real work as part of a team.

Depending on your apprenticeship, you could be:

• Building websites
• Supporting customers
• Working on engineering projects
• Managing accounts
• Creating marketing content
• Working in finance
• Supporting IT systems
• Learning a skilled trade

You receive training

Alongside your day-to-day work, you'll spend time developing the knowledge and skills you need for your apprenticeship. This might involve studying with a training provider, attending classes, completing online learning, working with a mentor or undertaking assessments.

The balance between working and training varies depending on the apprenticeship and the employer. The important thing is that training is a fundamental part of the apprenticeship, so you won't just be left to figure things out for yourself.

You work towards a qualification

Your apprenticeship leads to a recognised qualification or set of qualifications, depending on the programme. The level and type of qualification will depend on the apprenticeship you're completing.

For example, there are apprenticeships at different levels, from those equivalent to GCSE and A level qualifications through to higher and degree apprenticeships.

A degree apprenticeship can be particularly interesting if you want to gain a university degree while also building substantial professional experience. This way, when you finish, you could have both a qualification and real workplace experience.

And yes, you get paid

One of the biggest differences between an apprenticeship and traditional full-time study is that you're employed and paid while you learn. Your exact pay will depend on factors including your age, the apprenticeship and the employer.

You should always check the salary or hourly rate before applying and make sure you understand the working hours and other terms of employment. There are no tuition fees when becoming an apprentice, because you're being employed while completing your training.

What might a normal week look like?

There's no single apprenticeship timetable. Your week will depend on your employer, occupation and training programme. You might spend four days working with your team and one day undertaking structured training. Or your training could be spread across the week through a mixture of workplace learning, online study and time with a training provider.

You could spend your morning working on a real project, attend a training session in the afternoon and then spend the next day putting what you've learned into practice. This is what separates apprenticeships from university; the learning and the work are connected.

What happens when you finish?

Finishing an apprenticeship doesn't necessarily mean starting from scratch again. You could move into a permanent role with your employer, progress to a higher-level apprenticeship, gain additional professional qualifications or continue developing your career in another organisation.

Because you've already been working, you'll already have experience under your belt, meaning you'll be able to talk about what you've actually done, rather than just what you've studied.

Is an apprenticeship right for you?

An apprenticeship could suit you if you:

• Prefer learning by doing
• Want to start earning
• Like the idea of working as part of a team
• Want to gain practical experience
• Have a particular career or industry in mind
• Want to gain a qualification without paying university tuition fees

It's not the easy route

It can be a great route into a career, but it's not the right choice for everyone. The important thing is to understand what you're signing up for. Apprenticeships aren't the easy route compared to university.