Over the last few years more and more students have expressed interest in applying for apprenticeships. It’s not difficult to see why. The average university student in the UK, enrolled on a three year course, carries more than £50,000 of debt. You have to really want to study the course, and know that the graduate prospects are good, to spend that much on your education and the student experience. Otherwise it’s a very expensive party!! Higher and Degree level Apprenticeships (HAD) have funded fees, and the ‘student’ gets paid to do their job. If they budget well on their salary (salaries vary) they can qualify after 2-3 years with no debt, and in some cases money in the bank.
We provide a lot of advice about apprenticeships in Sixth Form, through assemblies, workshops and visiting speakers – all alongside KEVI Inspires. To access the latest advice, to parents, with links to live applications please click here. There is a really wide range of levels available and new frameworks are being approved each year. Unfortunately there is no one point in the year to apply for apprenticeships and there still isn’t one ‘go to’ site to research them. Sixth Form students are provided with links of recommended websites to use or register with (there isn’t a definitive list), any adverts sent to the school are emailed out to the appropriate age groups. We are passionate about supporting students in applying for apprenticeships but we can’t do all the research and applications for them, they really do need to be very organised and proactive.
Some of the links to local and national websites are here:
Newcastle College Apprenticeships
Northumberland College Apprenticeships
There are some FAQs:
Do I have to study?
Yes, and in your own time too. You’ll have to attend college or a training facility as part of your course, it may even be a university. A lot depends on your employer and the sector you go into. Level 1 to 4 apprenticeships are most likely to be ‘day release’, you’ll spend 1 day a week studying in a classroom setting. Level 4 upwards could be ‘day release’ but could also be ‘block studying’ where you spend 2-4 weeks out of work at a training facility. The higher the level of apprenticeship the greater the need for independent study as well.
How much can I earn?
The minimum wage for an apprentice from April 2020 is £4.15 per hour. (National Minimum Wage) Many of the HAD providers pay considerably more and advertise competitive baseline salaries of approximately £13k – £15k often with accompanying employee benefits (e.g. staff discounts, health insurance etc) – remember you’ll have to pay your own travel costs and potentially rent out of your salary.
Can I claim student finance?
No not usually as you’re in employment earning a salary. For some HAD you can claim a student grant but you’ll need to do your research.
Where can I get accommodation?
This is up to you and your budget. Some of the national companies have enough apprentices that they can direct you towards inexpensive accommodation. Many apprentices find they need to live at home.
Our Careers Team is always happy to answer questions about Apprenticeships. We’ve asked some former KEVI Students to tell us about their experience of being an apprentice:
Lucy Nevens – Apprentice at MHA Tait Walker
“I attended KEVI Sixth Form from 2016-2018. During this time, I became very confused as to what I wanted to do after I finished my A Levels. This affected my revision as I spent many hours trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Eventually, I decided to apply for a place at university to study Law as going to university seemed to be the ‘normal’ thing to do and all my friends were going.
Once I had finished my exams, I had more of a chance to think about what I wanted to do. I realised that it wasn’t feasible to get into a lot of debt for a career that I wasn’t sure that I would even enjoy. I started to look for apprenticeships and came across a few in accountancy – a career path that I had previously thought about. I had a few interviews in the summer, including one at my current employment, MHA Tait Walker in Gosforth.
I have now worked at MHA Tait Walker for 18 months, having recently completed my AAT Level 3. I will be progressing onto my Level 4 soon, and then onto my chartered exams. For my 20% on the job training I attend college as well as being trained internally so that I can apply my knowledge to real life situations.
Originally, I thought that I would feel left out while all my friends were at university, as they would all move on and find new friends. However, I still see them and their new friends very often – and I have money so I can do things with them. I also have made great friends at work who I go to many social events with. I have also been able to move into student accommodation in Newcastle to get part of the university lifestyle, while still getting paid.”
Chloe Wilson – Apprentice NHS
“This time last year I was where some of you might be now… not a clue what to do after Sixth Form. There is the idea of University hanging in the balance, there’s not doing any of that and just getting a job, or there is the option of getting an Apprenticeship – but that then leads to the question “doing what?” There are many different options available to us as young adults, all it needs is for us to believe in ourselves that it is ok to not follow others and do our own thing. I’m a prime example, I knew from an early stage in my sixth form life that uni just wasn’t for me. And it can be hard as you near the end of sixth form as all you friends are getting ready to go to uni, you have perhaps known these people the whole of your school life you see these people more then you may see your family. So to go from seeing them everyday to perhaps once in a while when they are home can be daunting and worrying. But take it from me don’t be frightened it will all work out the way that it is meant to.
On a day to day basis I am up at 6AM and I am at work on the ward and helping patients at 7:30AM. My normal working day is 7:30-3:30 Monday – Friday so its sort of like a school day/week but just an extra 1hr and a 1/2. Where I am working is Day Surgery, this means that I look after people pre and post op. This means that the patients I see are relatively fit and well. In order to get them ready for surgery me and my colleagues have to go through checklists with the patients and ask them multiple questions like “Do you have any metal wear or prostheses in your body?” As well as “when was the last time you had something to eat and drink ” as patients are Nil by mouth (can’t eat or drink) after a certain time before their surgery take their blood pressure and more. After patients have been checklisted the porters come to take them to theatres we take them to theatres ready for their surgery. After the patients have had their surgery they come back to our ward and we give them tea or coffee and toast – as this will be their first availability to have something to eat as they are no longer now nil by mouth. We then keep an eye on the patient and do routine observations every half an hour (earlier if required) to check their BP (Blood Pressure) Sats, Pulse and Respirations. Once the patients have been with us for a certain amount of time post op ( generally 2 hours) the nurses discharge the patient and they are ready to go home.
The job is not always glamorous you do have to change and clean beds, and take patients to and from the toilet, but I don’t mind In anyway as I know I am helping the patient in any way that I can.
If you are thinking about a job in the healthcare sector but don’t want to or are not sure about going to uni, I would definitely recommend applying for an apprenticeship with the NHS. It’s a qualification with hands on experience at the same time. I promise you I absolutely love it and wouldn’t change the way that I’m getting into the health sector one bit.
If you have any questions speak to Fiona who has my details and she can pass on questions to me and I’ll try to answer them or I’ll pass them onto my manager if I can’t.
I hope if you have taken the time to read this article it has helped you a little with your choices.
You never know we might end up working together someday. Till then…”
