What is an apprenticeship?

What can you expect?

This is a work based education initiative that provides a high quality route into work for school leavers, an alternative to staying at school and taking A-levels and provides an opportunity for employed people to enhance and develop their skills. Apprenticeships help with the training and development of people employed within the workplace. An apprenticeship comprises of a framework of qualifications or a standard.  These can include the following elements:

NVQ/DIPLOMA or other Technical Certificates

These are work related qualifications, which describe exactly what you should be able to do in your job role. They reflect the competency and knowledge needed to do a job effectively and show that a candidate is competent in their area of work. NVQ/Diploma/BTEC’s are based on national standards split into a series of units, which cover all the main aspects of an occupation. Each individual unit is assessed and the NVQ/Diploma/BTEC is awarded when all of the required units have been achieved. A qualified Tutor/Assessor, supported by the workplace mentor, normally conducts assessment activities within the workplace and will visit you on a monthly basis. The framework or standard may also include English, Maths and ICT Functional Skills, Employment Rights and Responsibilities and Personal Learning and Thinking Skills.