What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is an incredibly exciting option, whether you are about to leave school or college and making that first leap into full-time employment, or those already working within your chosen industry and looking to upskill to progress your career.
An apprenticeship is a real job where you learn, gain experience and get paid. You’re an employee with a contract of employment and holiday leave. By the end of an apprenticeship, you’ll have the right skills and knowledge needed for your chosen career.
You get hands-on training, learn all about your industry and put your skills into practice, all while earning a wage and receiving the benefits of being an employee.
It can, typically, take between one and 3 years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which one you choose, what level it is and your previous experience.
What you’ll earn
What you earn will depend on in the industry, location and type of apprenticeship that you choose and, while there is an apprenticeship minimum wage, many employers will opt to pay a lot more, either right from the beginning or on an incremental basis.
Additionally, in many of the property-based apprenticeships that we offer, there will be the opportunity to earn commission on top of your salary.
What it costs
Apprenticeships are funded from contributions made by the government and, in some instances, by your employer too. This means there is nothing for you as the apprentice to pay towards the cost. You’ll just need to cover your day-to-day expenses such as lunch and travel to work.
Levels of an apprenticeship
Each apprenticeship has a level and an equivalent education level. You can start an apprenticeship at any level, dependant on your previous academical achievements and experience.
At the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll achieve the equivalent education level. For example, if you complete a level 3 apprenticeship, you’ll achieve the equivalent of an A level.
| Level | Equivalent education level | |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | 2 | GCSE |
| Advanced | 3 | A level |
| Higher | 4,5,6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor’s or master’s degree |
Applying for an apprenticeship
For those looking for the right opportunity, there are hundreds of apprenticeships to choose from. To apply for one, you’ll need to create an account on the find an apprenticeship service. You can also save any apprenticeships you like and then apply for them later.
If you’ve seen an apprenticeship you like on the employer’s website, you can apply for it directly.
Applying for an apprenticeship is much like the process of finding a job. The employer and their chosen training provider, Crown Vocational Training for our own positions, will work together to select the most appropriate candidate for the role and will commonly conduct interviews or provide work trials.
Naturally, there are often many applications for each apprenticeship so it may take a few applications to find the right opportunity. If you don’t hear back or get an interview, don’t take it personally – it’s normal and happens to everyone.
How can Crown Vocational Training help me to find an apprenticeship?
Here at Crown, we have a large number of apprenticeship opportunities available nationwide and across a variety of different industry sectors including business administration, customer service, estate agency, lettings, human resources and management.
If you would like to speak with a member of our experienced recruitment team, they will be able to discuss and provide guidance on the best opportunities available for you, enabling you to apply for roles with confidence.
To get in touch with us, call us on 01702 597499 or e-mail us at recruitment@crownvt.co.uk.
