Is an apprenticeship right for me?

Deciding whether to follow the apprenticeship path is not an easy decision for anyone. The best thing you can do is remember and reassure yourself that at any moment there are hundreds of thousands of young school leavers like yourself asking the same question; are apprenticeships right for me?

It’s a tough question to answer and the pressure from family and friends often doesn’t help much either. The most important thing to remember is to stay focused on yourself. Do what you think will be best for your future based on your goals, and your future desires.

Below we discuss a few things you should consider when trying to decide between pursuing apprenticeships or university education.

1) What does an apprenticeship involve?

Apprenticeships are great opportunities to get wonderful work experience working in a mature company whilst also receiving formal training and education on the job supported by professionally recognised qualifications.

There’s no need to wait until you are 18. Many companies offer apprenticeships starting from

the age of 16. Apprenticeships will usually last a year during which the company will train you on the job and give you the opportunities to complete that year with new added qualifications.

2) Do I want to study for three years or do I want to use that time to build up experience?

When trying to decide whether to begin an apprenticeship or attend university you should focus on what type of personality you are.

Apprenticeships are best for those that want to begin building work experience right away. They offer the advantage of financial independence, work life, and professional training.

What kind of approach to learning do you prefer? If you prefer a more hands-on learning experience to one that is predominantly theoretical then apprenticeships will likely give you the experience that you seek. If you already know or you simply don’t like the sound of long study sessions in the library for weeks on end then university probably isn’t the right option for you.

3) Will apprenticeships set me at a disadvantage?

Not at all. If anything you will come out of your apprenticeship programme with far more practical work experience than your university counterparts, with just as much knowledge of your field, and usually you’re done years before your friends in university even graduate!

In fact, depending on the level of your apprenticeship, you could even graduate your apprenticeship programme with a degree-level qualification along with having developed all those ‘soft-skills’ and industry experience so often touted by employers.

Apprenticeships offer real in depth industry experience. This allows you to build up that crucial experience that will make a difference when you apply to other jobs.

4) Will I get stuck in my industry?

Absolutely not. Your career trajectory is down to you entirely. In fact most apprenticeships will show future employers how driven you are to work hard and succeed from a young age.

By beginning to work as an apprentice you will learn lots of new skills that you wouldn’t know otherwise. This will be an opportunity for to then carry these skills forward with you into future careers with increased earning potential!

It is also a myth that if you do apprenticeships you can’t go to university. Many ex-apprentices eventually decide when they are older that they finally want a university education, either to enhance their career prospects or to change to a new one.

5) No Student Debt

Most students that attend university graduate with enormous levels of debt. Some students in the UK now have higher levels of debt on average compared to students in the US.

As an apprentice you won’t take on any debt. Instead your employer will pay you for your work whilst they also offer you sponsored training opportunities. You can expect to earn between £170-£200 a week as an apprentice. Moreover, 71 percent of apprentices stay with the same employer after completing their apprenticeships, and 90 percent remain employed a year after their apprenticeship.