Apprentices
Monday 1 February 2010
It’s Apprenticeship Week! Meet some apprentices and find out how they've been getting on.
Apprenticeship Week
1st-5th February is Apprenticeship Week! This week apprentices from all over the UK will be recognised for the skill and effort that they’ve put in to their jobs.
Try it out
Not sure if college or uni is for you? An Apprenticeship might be the answer.
You’ve got to be 16 years old or over and not in full-time education to apply.
Life of an apprentice
Learning about a job is one thing, but putting what you've learnt into practice is another. An apprentice learns on-the-job skills in an area of their choice. They can choose from over 190 different Apprenticeships in industries like the media, law, education, engineering and retail.
During an Apprenticeship life can be quite hectic. Time is split between training at work and completing a qualification like a Level 2 or 3 NVQ or a BTEC.
An Apprenticeship isn't just about working and training though. Apprentices get paid for the work they do, which means they can make a decent living and still have a social life. Salaries usually start at £95 a week, but some apprentices earn a lot more. Find out more here.
The apprentices
Meet Victoria
Victoria started her first Apprenticeship when her mum and dad passed away a few years ago. “I had to take care of my young brothers and find ways to pay bills at a young age. My Apprenticeship helped me do this as it meant I could still earn money while working towards my qualification,” she explains.
Victoria's first Apprenticeship in Hairdressing helped her to set some goals for her career. At present she’s completing an Advanced Apprenticeship to help her up the career ladder. “I haven’t got to where I am now easily. I have really worked hard at doing my Apprenticeship in order to succeed.”
Meet Mark
20 year old Mark suffers from cerebral palsy, which means he doesn't have full use of his legs. However, Mark hasn't let his disability stop him from completing an apprenticeship in Coaching, Teaching and Instructing Football.
“My Apprenticeship programme provided the foundation I needed to set me off on my chosen career. I think I have demonstrated that I can overcome any obstacle that appears to stand in my way!” explains Mark.
Check out what Elisa and Shahid learnt during their Apprenticeship.
Get involved
It’s going to be a hectic week. Drop-in events, job swaps, demonstrations and challenges will be taking place all over the UK.
Fancy a career in fashion? Today New College Durham will be holding a fashion show organised by its apprentices. Or are you a chef in the making? On Tuesday Exeter College will be holding a cooking demonstration. You can search for more events here.
If you can’t make it to any events then you can still catch up on the latest goings on by following Apprenticeships on Twitter.
