There are so many reasons why you should choose an apprenticeship. You may be torn between choosing to go to College/University or to do an apprenticeship. You could even be looking at an alternative option in case you don't receive the result you're expecting to get, so here’s why you should consider an apprenticeship.
What are my options?
You have a lot of options if you’re looking at alternative routes into your career. From doing a gap year, going to University or even going into full time employment or doing an apprenticeship, it’s important to consider all of these options. Don’t be limited in what career you choose – did you can get an apprenticeship in over 170 industries!
Earn while you learn
An apprenticeship is simply earning while you learn. The typical question is “How much can I earn as an apprentice?” An apprenticeships minimum wage is £3.50 an hour but, some degree apprentices’ can earn up to £22,000 a year! This compared to an average graduate salary which is around £18,000 – is brilliant! You could potentially be earning more in your first year as a college leaver than a graduate does!
Achieve valuable skills
The qualifications you earn from an apprenticeship is likely to have UCAS points attached. This means that University isn’t out of reach to you as an apprentice, that is if you wanted to do a degree later in your career. In fact, many Universities and employers love to see young people with industry experience. During an apprenticeship, you will gain many soft skills, like talking to colleagues and client liaison, which you can continue to use throughout your career.
Career focussed
You will gain specific skills in a workplace that will improve your career prospects through doing an apprenticeship. This will help build your CV with work experience that will help you for any future job you may be interested in. Even if it is not in the same industry as your apprenticeship was in, experience is a vital part of your career.
Meet new people
Through your apprenticeship you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people in that industry. These career contacts will help you in your future when you’re looking at progressing in your career! Connect with these contacts on LinkedIn and start networking straight away! Not only that but you could make new friends in your apprenticeship at work and even at college!
You can still aim high!
Don’t think that doing an apprenticeship is sub-standard to alternatives such as going to University or College. You can finish an apprenticeship with an equivalent qualification to your peers who have gone down a more academic route. With the work experience you have, you’ll also have bigger opportunities than your peers without experience in the real working world.
It’s a real-life setting
If you like the idea of challenging yourself in an environment where it actually matters, an apprenticeship is the perfect opportunity. This is because what you’re doing will actually be part of a business’s plan you work in. Everything you do will be related back to a real life setting. Depending on who you work for and the team you're on, these projects could be worth tens of thousands of pounds!
Avoiding student loans
An apprenticeship is the perfect way of avoiding student loans. You can get a degree through a degree apprenticeship or gain an equivalent qualification such as an HNC or HND or something from an accredited institution such as CIM. Even if you’re not looking at going to university but thinking about retaking college qualifications, during your apprenticeship you won’t have to pay for these qualifications – your employer or the Government will.
Use industry tools
With an apprenticeship, you’re learning on the job. You will be thrown into the deep end and develop skills that you might not even achieve at University or College. Whether it’s using up-to-date technology or machinery if you’re interested in engineering or using a CRM tool like Salesforce in a business role. Tools that you can use in a variety of roles!
Let us know what you decide to do!
