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A brighter future with apprenticeships

There are a huge range of apprenticeships to choose from - over 200 in more than 80 different industry sectors - ranging from engineering, manufacturing and retail to business and accounting. 

A third of engineering firms in this country feel that shortages of skills and engineering graduates are delaying the development of new products.  Over 930,000 young people have just received their GCSE or A Level exam results in the UK, and if you’re one of them, you are no doubt considering your next move.  I’m sure that you are looking for something challenging and rewarding, but are you also looking for real-life work experience paired with a bank of transferable skills and qualifications that will lead to a successful career? And most importantly, do you want to get paid for it?

If so, then an apprenticeship should be at the top of your list of career options, whether you have just left school or are looking for a debt free alternative to a degree following your A levels. There are a huge range of apprenticeships to choose from - over 200 in more than 80 different industry sectors - ranging from engineering, manufacturing and retail to business and accounting. 

Perhaps the best way to sum up the benefits of apprenticeships to young people is through the words of apprentices themselves. Matthew McCarry, Engineering apprentice from Cumbria says: “My apprenticeship has given me a lot more confidence, given me ideas about deadlines and made me more determined. It’s a great programme. I would definitely recommend it.”

Have you ever wondered how some of your heroes may have got to where they are today? A recent study by qualifications body, City & Guilds, shows that today’s apprentice is set to become tomorrow’s self-made millionaire. Some of the country’s most successful business people and celebrities such as Jamie Oliver, Karen Millen, Sir Alex Ferguson and James Dyson all began their careers as apprentices.

Lastly, when thinking about your future, remember that employers value apprentices very highly. According to a business survey carried out by the LSC, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of employers said apprenticeships were ideal, rating this form of vocational training higher than any other qualification. In fact, some of the biggest names in business offer apprenticeships including BT, Vodafone, British Gas, Orange and Bentley Motors.

British Gas is a great example of the companies employing apprenticeships in the engineering sector. Their apprenticeship programme has an incredibly high retention rate of 95 per cent. This gives British Gas a competitive advantage in a tight labour market by reducing its training and recruitment costs (annual wastage rates of ca. 5 per cent are very low). Apprentices on their in-house training programme are on average 25 per cent more productive and qualify three months sooner compared to externally trained engineers.

British Telecom also highly values its apprentices, and has calculated an annual net profit of over £1,300 per apprentice when compared to adult (non-apprentice) recruitment. Recent figures show a 1.5 per cent increase in the quality of work compared to non-apprentice engineers – testimony to the high standard of apprenticeships in engineering.

If you are interested in finding out more about what apprenticeship would be right for you, please visit the Learning and Skills Council apprenticeship website. Remember that demand for places is high, so if you’re still considering your options, why not talk to a Connexions Direct adviser. You can get in touch with them by calling 080 800 13219.