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10 years ago you might have heard people describing apprentices as ‘the dummy who does the same work for less pay’ - or something to this extent. I want to talk about how level 6 apprenticeships have revolutionised our society, and how they are becoming one of the biggest tools to success in the modern generation.
Aside from the obvious benefits of competitive salaries and fully funded bachelors degrees, apprenticeships have so much more to offer. There is access to a huge realm of industry specific expertise, as well as degree based knowledge - accompanied by secondments and placement rotations - rendering your job options almost limitless. Further to this, apprenticeships create a vast network of connections for apprentices, ranging from colleagues to senior leaders, which enables great opportunities for growth, opportunities and endorsement throughout your career. In parallel, this also creates a great amount of exposure to an apprentice employee, meaning their visibility within a company is theirs to utilise in whichever way suits their development.
According to the graduate outcomes report by HESA, graduates earn an average starting salary of £24,000, after already acquiring university debt and having limited industry experience. Whilst this is the right path for some, for many apprenticeships will be the better option, with apprentices graduating with starting salaries (subject to employer/position), in the £30,000 bracket, along with 4 years of business specific experience and no university debt. In a changing world where the cost of living is increasing, this is a huge benefit.
Arguably, the biggest attraction for apprentices is the flexibility in comparison to full time work or university. Most apprenticeships offer 4 days of work in conjunction with one day of study, however this can be altered should the apprentice need more time to study. This is also not a dead end 9-5 - working hours are modern and flexible with opportunity to create your own schedule and work from home. There are also many opportunities for travel and development throughout , wether this be university trips, team-building weeks or conferences globally. Apprenticeships are exciting, inspiring and fun despite the belief that they are all hard work.
Veering away from the extensive list of benefits, it’s important to discuss - how do you actually get an apprenticeship? It is clear that they are not discussed or offered in schools, 6th form or colleges enough and this may be a hinderance for some without proper support throughout the application process. I know personally, despite my school advocating for apprenticeships, I did not get nearly as much support as my peers applying for university when searching and applying for apprenticeships.
The best way to find somewhere to do an apprenticeship is on the actual company website, usually they have a section called ‘early talent’ or something to this extent. Also websites and blogs found easily on Google are great to compare between apprenticeships and find something which is right for you. In terms of application , usually you just need to register your interest and from there , should you be successful on the first round of interviews there may be a few more rounds. Apprenticeships are highly competitive and therefore it is important to come prepared to these interviews. Upon talking to colleagues, although a strong cv is obviously a benefit to any application, many hiring managers prefer an applicant with the ability to freely and extensively talk about why they are interested in a particular role and how their life experiences relate to this. Colloquially known as ‘gift of the gab’ ,if you get this right, you should be able to talk yourself far in to most positions. I personally didn’t get one of the required grades in the subject area for my apprenticeship, but was told I was hired based on my ability to sell myself and talk passionately, so it’s important not to get hung up on the finer details and put the best version of yourself forward.
Apprentices are treated with just as much respect and equality as other employees in a company - there really is a combination of guidance, opportunities and leadership being implemented more and more for apprentices over time, with the pairing of skills and knowledge developed fast-tracking apprentices in to senior positions and promotions at a much quicker rate than seen with university graduates. Agreed, apprenticeships are hard work and require dedication and commitment - but this is required in anything you do in life if you want to achieve.
With work-life balance, flexibility and freedom becoming higher priorities on people’s agendas, apprenticeships are a no brainer. With determination, resilience and a passion for your role they really can be the stepping stone required to take the leap to growth and success.
As a generation emerging in to the working world, we are privileged to have a wealth of options, and whichever route you take, apprenticeship or not, is worthy of being proud of.
I am excited to see how interest in apprenticeships grows over coming years and to see future leaders being given the best possible start to their careers.
About the Author - Jessica Proctor!
I am a second year apprentice working at Glaxo Smith Kline doing a level 6 apprenticeship. I work within Biopharm Process Research and I am excited to share my knowledge of apprenticeships!