How can an apprenticeship give you a head start?

Sean Allison

Managing Director, Not Going To Uni

Do you feel like you’re being pressured into going to university? Before you settle, get to know your options – an apprenticeship might just suit you better.

So, what is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship combines both work and study to give an all-round learning experience. The work side of things involves working day-to-day with seasoned colleagues, learning the working environment and understanding the dynamics of the workplace. The learning aspect depends on the type of apprenticeship, the sector and the company or training provider.

However, the hands-on approach that apprenticeships take mean you will constantly be learning – whether that be from colleagues or from your own mistakes and experiences.

Apprenticeships are offered in almost every sector from engineering to computer programming. Most of the biggest companies you can think of will take apprentices, as well as local businesses. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door.

Going to uni because you’re not sure what you want to do has become common in recent years and has resulted in the growth of the skills gap.

Companies really value apprentices

Apprentices are important to companies and imperative to their future and growth, which really shows the high value that being an apprentice can hold. There are different levels of apprenticeship, ranging from level 1 to level 6/7. These different levels will, naturally, appeal to different people and what suits them best.

No one expects an apprentice to walk into a role and be the best – there are some employees that will have been doing that job for years; this is the perfect chance to learn under them. You’ll learn from their mistakes and they’ll be able to offer more of a personal touch that you might not get in the traditional classroom.

An apprenticeship is usually between three-to-four years long and, upon completion, it is really common that the apprentice is offered a full-time job within the same company.

To clarify, an apprenticeship is gaining hands-on working experience, receiving a qualification upon completion, all while being paid a salary. Sounds good doesn’t it?

Why should you do an apprenticeship?

Adding to the numerous positive points aforementioned, an apprenticeship can also give you a head start. How? Simple; the experience you have gained as an apprentice will go a long way. If you compare an apprentice to a university student, then the differences suddenly become crystal clear:

There are some careers that require you to go to university and gain a degree, and that’s understandable. However, going to uni because you’re not sure what you want to do has become common in recent years and has resulted in the growth of the skills gap.

Coming out of university with a degree you weren’t 100% about, and then looking for a job in a completely different field of work leaves you back at square one. With an apprenticeship, not only do you become extremely competent in what you worked on, but you gain soft skills (some might call them ‘life skills’), which are invaluable. It is often the case that an apprentice will be a lot more employable than a uni graduate.

So, before you go to uni because you think it’ll be fun, spare a thought to your future and consider if an apprenticeship would actually be a lot more beneficial…