Apprenticeships

What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships may well be the flavour of the moment, but they are not a new idea. In fact, apprenticeships hark back to Medieval Times. Craftsmen would take on young men (14 -21 years) offering them a free training in exchange for basic food and lodgings. An apprentice would be tied to their employer for several years during which they would learn as much as they were able to become a qualified craftsman themselves. During the Industrial Revolution, the concept was abolished, and it was not until the 1960s that it re-emerged in the UK.

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Apprenticeship Reviews

We have begun to create independent reviews of apprenticeship programmes (really getting under the skin of organisations to see how they tick in terms of their current and future apprenticeships offers), to give teachers, careers advisers, parents and pupils a reliable and insightful view of what each apprenticeship offers, in the short and in the long term, and of who it suits.

Please take a look at them, and let us know what you think.

We have begun to create independent reviews of apprenticeship programmes (really getting under the skin of organisations to see how they tick in terms of their current and future apprenticeships offers), to give teachers, careers advisers, parents and pupils a reliable and insightful view of what each apprenticeship offers, in the short and in the long term, and of who it suits.

Please take a look at them here, and let us know what you think.

Celebrating Apprenticeships

In partnership with The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), we are trialling a campaign to see if saying Thank You to schools and teachers increases their interest in putting more students forward for apprenticeships.

We would be delighted if you felt able to share the message, or a version of it, with your current apprentices, or those who have recently completed an apprenticeship with you.

Thank you in advance for your help and, if you have any queries at all, please do get in touch [email protected]

Click here to find out how the campaign works

Frequently asked questions

Apprenticeships are not all alike. Top of the range Degree Apprenticeships are as good as a university degree. Below that are Apprenticeships that offer a wide range of practical and theoretical training, which are well respected in the industries they serve. And then there are others that do not amount to much at all. All the employers in our Apprenticeship Reviews offer high-class Apprenticeships – ones that can form the foundation of a fine career.

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Traineeships

To help students qualify for apprenticeship schemes the government have introduced these short traineeship programs, a combination of work experience and learning. 

A trainee program will also help anyone who wants to enter an apprenticeship scheme gain the necessary requirements of basic English or Maths qualifications. 

Traineeships are work placements can that last from 6 weeks to 6 months.

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