What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are a real job that also give you the opportunity to gain a qualification.

Apprentices get paid a wage. The current minimum wage for an apprentice is £6.40 per hour, rising to £7.55 in April. Many employers pay more than this.

Apprenticeships can last between 1 and 4 years. And range from level 2 (GCSE level) to level 7 (masters university level)

Apprentices will spend 80% of their time doing the job and 20% off the job learning to gain a qualification.

There are thousands of apprenticeships available in over 170 industries.

Find an apprenticeship

Applying for Apprenticeships

How to get an Apprenticeship

Study Programmes

(pre-apprenticeships)

Not everyone is ready to start full-time college or an apprenticeship after Year 11. So you can begin your journey with a Study programme.

Find out more by watching our video or click to read our guide to Study Programmes.

 

Careers Advice for young people

Do you need support with searching and applying for Apprenticeships or Study Programmes? 

If you are aged 16-19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), live in Birmingham and not in Education, Employment or Training our Birmingham Careers Service Advisers can help you. 

Get in touch with us or you can book an appointment to speak to us in person at the Library of Birmingham.

 

How to get an apprenticeship

Know where to search for apprenticeships

Search and apply for apprenticeships in England on the official government website

Specialist job sites – such as Indeed  or Total jobs 

Direct with employers – check out employer’s websites

Social media – use social media to search for apprenticeships e.g. LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram

Training provider – training providers will offer apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programmes

Apply for more than one apprenticeship at a time

Apply for as many apprenticeships as possible, this will give you a better chance of securing one.

Prepare in advance

Get your CV ready

Prepare a cover letter, this can then be tailored to the application

Make a list of the skills you have and examples of when you have used them. This will help when making applications and attending interviews

Make sure you have a professional email address

Details of work experience, be able to give dates of and what you did during any work experience you have completed.

Check the advert

When is the start date?

Do you have the right qualifications?

When is the closing date. Applications may close early if they receive a lot of applications.

Making your application

Personalise your application to the role

Research the company and the role

Sell yourself, make sure you include all the skills you have and be able to give examples of when you have used them.

Prepare for interviews

Research questions that might be asked and prepare answers for them

Questions may be asked about yourself, the employer and the role

Prepare some questions to ask the employer

Know how to get to the interview, plan what to wear etc

Read over your application and CV

Be resilient

It can be hard to get an apprenticeship as there is a lot of competition for roles. Keep applying and use each application and interview as an experience to build on

Ask for feedback if you are unsuccessful at an interview to support you in improving for your next interview.

If you need support, contact us

Birmingham Careers Service  can help you with searching and applying for apprenticeships, creating CV’s and preparing for interviews.

 

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