#NAW2022 8 Things You Need to Know About Apprenticeships

Life has changed for most of us over the past years, but apprenticeships are still one of the best ways to start your career, if you want to earn while you learn.

Here are 8 things you need to know about apprenticeships:

1. An apprenticeship is a real job with training

As an apprentice, you are given real responsibilities, an employment contract, holiday and sick pay, as with any other member of staff. However, you’ll spend some time at college studying, as well as learning transferable skills.

2. You will get great qualifications

 All of our apprentices are supported by a Training Coordinator and Assessor to help them achieve their qualifications and complete their apprenticeship.

3. An apprenticeship usually takes between one and five years to complete

It depends on the level of apprenticeship/qualification you are taking, and what you have achieved so far. Working hours will vary depending on the employer, but you’ll work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

4. Apprenticeships have changed

Although we offer apprenticeships in trade jobs, like construction and hairdressing, you’ll find a wide range of apprenticeships in all sorts of industries such as cyber, dental nursing, computing, marketing and engineering. In fact, at GC, we offer apprenticeships across 17 sectors.

5. You can gain a degree

As well as our higher-level apprenticeships, you can undertake a full degree-level apprenticeships and actually get paid to study, rather than rack up student debt. Currently we offer degree apprenticeships in Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineering; Product Design and Development; and Cyber Security – all in partnership with UWE Bristol.

6. The majority of apprentices stay in employment

9 out of 10 GC apprentices stay with the same employer after finishing their apprenticeship and 1 in 4 are promoted.

7. Most recruitment is now online

Many employers have replaced face-to-face recruitment with the use of telephone and video interviews, as well as online assessments. Get clued up on using technology to search for your apprenticeship or employer, follow companies on social media and prepare yourself for a possible virtual recruitment process or even start to your apprenticeship. Despite this the process is still very straight forward, learn more on how to find an apprenticeship here.

8. You can apply for an apprenticeship at the same time as applying to college.

While we do have live apprenticeship vacancies on our website, if you have a specific employer in mind, you will need to contact them directly about available opportunities. However, it’s best to have a back-up option in case they aren’t quite ready to take on an apprentice; apply for a related course at GC to start your training, and switch to an apprenticeship at a later date, or once you’ve completed your course.

Find out more about GC apprenticeships and apply online.

View our Guide to GC Apprenticeships.