Apprenticeships in 2022: Everything you need to know

When the end of school-life beckons, the choice for many pupils will be whether to continue into further education or enter the world of employment. An apprenticeship provides the chance to do both. Working as an apprentice, you’ll receive many of the benefits of employment but also train in your chosen career, working towards a relevant qualification.

What’s more, apprenticeships aren’t simply for school-leavers; higher apprenticeship levels are also open to students with further education qualifications such as A levels or BTEC national diplomas.

Why an apprenticeship?

There are several advantages to working as an apprentice instead of entering full-time education or employment.

  Earn as you learn

Working as an apprentice, you’ll earn a regular wage as you train and gain work experience. You’ll also receive other employee benefits such as paid holiday.

From April 2022, the national minimum wage for apprentices up to 19 years old will be £4.81 per hour. If you are 19 or older and in the first year of your apprenticeship, you’ll also be paid £4.81 per hour as a minimum. All other apprentices aged 19 or older will receive the national living wage as a minimum; the hourly rate paid is age dependent. For instance, from April 2022 the national living wage for an individual aged 21 years old is a minimum of £9.18 per hour.
 

  The right experience and qualifications

Working and training as an apprentice sets you on the right career path from the outset – a path that you choose. The experience you gain and the training you receive is relevant for that specific career, instead of simply working in a job that will do for now. You’ll develop hands-on experience in a real-life work environment, build a network of colleagues, and work towards a recognised qualification.
 

  It’s free

In the UK, apprenticeships are funded by the government and participating employers. This means that you don’t have to pay to become an apprentice. You therefore avoid building up a student debt in the process of training for the career you want to follow.

Apprenticeship eligibility

The general eligibility to work as an apprentice in the UK asks that you:

• are at least 16 years old
• live in the UK country where you wish to work and train as an apprentice
• are not in full-time education at the start of the apprenticeship

Employers may have additional requirements to the above.

Do apprenticeships vary between UK countries?

There are some variations in the way that apprenticeships are handled in each of the UK countries. To find out more for your location, visit the relevant government website:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Apprenticeship levels

There is a range of apprenticeship levels available to you, depending on your age and qualifications.
 

  Intermediate (level 2)

Seen as the equivalent to five GCSEs or NVQ level 2, this is the category of apprenticeship that school-leavers who don’t enter further education will generally apply for. The main requirement is that you have the ability to complete the programme.
 

  Advanced (level 3)

Equivalent to two A levels or NVQ level 3, employers will generally ask that applicants have two GCSEs, most likely in English and Maths.
 

  Higher (level 4 and above)

A level 4 apprenticeship is the equivalent to an HNC, a foundation degree, or year one of an undergraduate degree, whereas level 5 is the equivalent of a full undergraduate degree. You will generally need a combination of GCSEs and A levels (or the equivalent of both) to apply for level 4 or 5.
 

  Degree (levels 5 to 7)

Levels 5 and 6 are equivalent to an undergraduate degree. Level 7 is equivalent to a master’s degree. To apply for a degree level apprenticeship, you will need a combination of GCSEs and A levels, or the equivalent of both. Employers may also ask that your qualifications are in relevant subjects and favour applicants with relevant work experience.

Where do I apply for an apprenticeship?

To search through available apprenticeships, visit any of the following:

• job boards, like JobLookup
• employer websites
• government apprenticeship resources – look back at the four links mentioned for each of the UK countries
• UCAS
• career fairs

Final Thoughts

With an increasing number of trades and career paths accessible through this route, an apprenticeship offers the perfect opportunity to train for your job of choice while supporting yourself financially too.

Ready to find an apprenticeship? JobLookup can help with your search.