1. Apprenticeships Purpose:
Starter pack
Purpose:
This is Apprenticeships STARTER Pack for typical use with Years Most slides are targeted at a mid-point Y9 group - with some optional younger Y7/8 and older Y10/11+ slides
Aim:
To INTRODUCE Apprenticeships as a Future Option
Presentation End-Point:
“YOU CAN NOW: Discover and explore all about Apprenticeships - to be an apprentice yourself!” 1

2. An Apprenticeship is a way for young people
to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining
a real qualification and a real future!
Speaker notes:
Who is an Apprenticeship for?
An Apprenticeship is available to anyone over 16 years old and living in England
Duration of an Apprenticeship
All apprenticeships must be at least 12 months long and lead to a national qualification but can vary in length depending on your existing skills levels, the level of Apprenticeship, and industry sector. 2

3. Learn job specific skills Gain a variety of transferable skills
The benefits are…
Earn a salary
Learn job specific skills
Gain a variety of transferable skills
Work towards nationally recognised qualifications
Progress into higher education
Advance in your chosen career
Speaker Notes:
Earn a salary
The national average is £200 per week (according to a national pay survey 2011). But this depends of the area, level of the Apprenticeship, sector and experience and can vary between £150 - £400 per week.
The minimum wage an apprentice can earn is £2.68 per hour (as at October 2013) for under 19’s and first year apprentices, £5.03 for 19 and 20 year olds and £6.31 for those aged 21 and over.
Job specific skills
These are skills that apply to the job e.g. a carpenter needs to know how to use the tools of his trade
Transferable skills
Transferable skills could be computer skills or communications skills
Nationally recognised qualifications
A qualification such as a City and Guilds certificate (also : National Vocational qualification (NVQ) and/or BTEC Award, Certificate or Diploma)
Progression
Apprenticeships show a clear path of progression with Higher Apprenticeships being equal to degree level and above
Advance in your chosen career
Employers favour Apprenticeships – one third of all apprentices receive a promotion within 12 months of finishing their Apprenticeship 3

4. Who else? Speakers notes:
Can you name the following people and guess what they started their career as?
Speakers notes:
Can you guess who the following people are and what they started their career as?
(Allow the class to call out some answers)
Answers (Left to right)
Jamie Oliver (Chef, author and TV personality) started helping out at his parents pub before completing an Apprenticeship in catering
Sir Alex Ferguson (Football coach) started as an Apprentice toolmaker in the shipyards in Glasgow
Billy Connolly (comedian) also started out as a welder in the same Glasgow shipyard as Sir Alex Ferguson
Elvis Presley (singer and film star) started out as an apprentice plumber
Rebecca Addlington OBE (Olympic gold medal swimmer) completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence
Alan Titchmarsh started as an apprentice gardener with Ilkley Council and completed a City and Guilds qualification in horticulture before moving to Kew Gardens to study a diploma in Horticulture 4

5. Different levels of Apprenticeship available
Level of Apprenticeships
Different levels of Apprenticeship available
Intermediate
Apprenticeship
Advanced
Higher
Level 2
12-18 months
Equivalent to 5 GCSEs A* - C
Level 3
18-48 months
Equivalent to 2 A-levels
Levels 4,5,6,7
24 months+
Equivalent to foundation degree level+
Speaker notes:
There are 3 levels of Apprenticeships
Intermediate Level Apprenticeships – equivalent to 5 A*-C GCSEs
Advanced Level Apprenticeships – equivalent to 2 A-levels
Higher Apprenticeships – equivalent to foundation degree and 4-5 vocational qualifications. Higher Apprenticeships are in development for levels 6 and 7 equivalent to bachelors and masters degrees
Apprenticeships have a minimum of 12 months, and can take up to four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices ability and the industry sector
Additional notes:
When looking for an Apprenticeship vacancy you will need to look at the entry criteria e.g. just because you already have GCSE’s at levels A-C does not automatically mean you can apply for an Advanced Apprenticeship in engineering. You would not want an untrained person to service your car or cut your hair so some sectors still require you to start at an introductory level.
Also, A-levels do not automatically mean you can move directly into a Higher Apprenticeship, there may be additional criteria depending on the sector.
Plus knowledge, competence, and employability skills 5

6. What training will I have?
Your Apprenticeship will cover both hands on experience and training in all other aspects of the job.
Your employer provides your ‘on the job’ training and pays your wages.
The remainder of your learning is delivered by a College or Training Provider either at their premises, at the work place or via e-learning
You will be assessed in the workplace by your College or Training provider
Speaker notes
The points on the slide are self explanatory
Background notes
Apprenticeships are designed with the help of the employers in the industry, so they offer a structured programme that takes apprentices through the skills they need to do a job well
There are targets and checks to make sure that their employer is supporting the apprentice and that they are making progress. As an employee they will be in employment for most of their time since most training takes place on the job. The rest of the usually takes place at a local college or a specialist training organisation or can be given at the employers premises. 6

7. Apprenticeships go up to degree level and beyond
What about higher education?
Apprenticeships go up to degree level and
beyond
Level 4 (Certificate of Higher Education)
Level 5 (Foundation Degree)
Level 6 (Bachelor’s Degree)
Level 7 (Master’s Degree)
Speaker notes:
Due to demand from business and backing from the government Higher Apprenticeships are expanding. Apprentices’ opportunities for career progression are increasing with the expansion of Higher Apprenticeships (levels 4- 7). Equivalent to a degree, more of these specialised and highly skilled Apprenticeships are being offered each year, giving individuals the chance to continue their professional development and realise their full potential.
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8. Times are tough! 73 graduates chasing every single vacancy
17 applicants for every apprenticeship
More than18,000 A level students with
3 Grade As
The economy – enough said!
Over 1 million young people unemployed (not in education, employment or training! NEET)

9. The Good News...
2.2 million new apprenticeships since 2010 & another three million "high-quality" apprenticeships pledged by 2020.
The vast majority of apprenticeships have been in the service sector.
In there were 126,000 in business, law and administration; 109,000 in health, public service and care; 87,000 in retail and commercial; and 65,000 in engineering and manufacturing.

10. More Good News...
The minimum wage for apprentices is £2.73** per hour, but many employers pay more than this.
The average gross weekly wage for an apprentice is £200***, some Higher Apprenticeships can pay as much as £300 – £500 per week.
More details on salaries & entry criteria for specific Apprenticeship occupations can be found at
**As at October 2014

11. How do I apply for an Apprenticeship?
Speaker notes:
Applying for an Apprenticeship is no different to applying for any other job, you should consider what your long term career goals are and how best to reach them then look for an Apprenticeship vacancy to get you started on the path to your dream career.
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12. Apprenticeship vacancies
Follow the following 5 easy steps to get started:
Log on to apprenticeships.org.uk
Click ‘Search for vacancies’, start searching. You can search using keywords, job role or postcode
Click ‘Register now’ under ‘New User?’ fill in your details and create your username and password
You’ll get a confirmation , click the link in the to activate your account
You’re ready to go, search for Apprenticeships that take your fancy and use the reusable application form. Set alerts so you’ll get an or text for any relevant new vacancies.
Speaker notes:
There are 5 easy steps to register on the Apprenticeship vacancies website and begin your search for your ideal job
Presenter guidance (see pack 2 Apprenticeship vacancies which gives in-depth guidance on the registration process)
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13. Applying for an Apprenticeship
You can also download the free smartphone app ‘AV Search’
Speaker notes:
If you have a smartphone you can download the ‘Av Search’ app for android or i-phone or scan the QR code and search for vacancies while on the move 13

14. Karen Millen, Stella McCartney, and Ross Brawn all started their careers as apprentices14

15. Top Tips Register online www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Download the Av search app
Watch the ‘How to Apply’ videos on you tube
Use the websites
Start early
Ask for help – Top Tips
Get organised – Log applications
Use initiative and apply on spec!
Be determined and thick skinned!
Have a back up plan
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16. A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell,
American Statesman

17. Further information
If you would like further information about Apprenticeships please visit apprenticeships.org.uk
To see the current jobs available please visit Apprenticeship vacancies or download the smartphone app ‘AV Search’ from the Apple or Google store.
For further assistance you can view the film ‘How to apply for an Apprenticeship’ which provides a step by step guide through the Apprenticeship vacancies service and explains what applicants can expect at every stage of the process.
You can also download a copy of the guide ‘How to write a winning Apprenticeship application’.
If you would like further advice on what Apprenticeship to do or other career choices contact nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk or call
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