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General => General discussion => Topic started by: jnufcuk on 11 October 2011, 11:45

Title: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: jnufcuk on 11 October 2011, 11:45
Hi im currently employed in retail but have had enough and want to try something different.

I know im more likely to earn a lil less for a while and will be willing to as i know if all goes well i could end up earning alot more  :smiley:

My question is are they any good? and has anyone ever done one?

Im looking to possibly go into the car industry? Or maybe IT? Or even a trade?

They are the 3 areas i would be looking at.

Do you have to go back to college/uni etc?

Thanks guys :smiley:
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Bellend on 11 October 2011, 12:23
Definately if you want the qualifiations.

Far better then learning at college.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Toby on 11 October 2011, 12:29
100% yes, that's if you can find one !

Much better way of learning and a job when you qualify :)
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: salsheikh on 11 October 2011, 12:32
can be worth it if your names Steve Bruce

(http://i53.tinypic.com/29f8saf.jpg)

(http://i54.tinypic.com/akhppx.jpg)
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: tshirt2k on 11 October 2011, 12:36
Depends on the company. I did one. Getting paid to learn is always a bonus.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: jnufcuk on 11 October 2011, 12:47
The only thing is i dont want to have to go back to college or uni.

I recently fisnished a course in IT (although didnt do the final year, degree year) as i wanted to earn money so went full time

I just had enough of essays, assignmetns etc lol so are there any websites or companies which are recommended?

Atm just signed up to http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/ and having a lil look.


What consists of an apprenticeship? Are there differnet types like half college half workshop or tag along with someone then find a job after your training etc?

Cheers guys just want to make sure i know exactly what is involved.

:afro:
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Jay on 11 October 2011, 12:55
You should have stuck out your last year and got your degree mate, could have walking into a decent job in IT or not, depending on where you are and what the IT jobs are like.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 11 October 2011, 13:03
chances are you will have to go back to uni/college as most places want degrees now.

im in my final year of an aprenticship with about 7 months left before im fully qualified.
imo it was alot better than going to college.

i get paid a decent wage (as much if not more than anyone i know whos working full time in a shop)
i got my college and uni paid for and next year will get my degree paid for.

also when you come out of uni its hard to find a job (my mate finished uni ages ago and only just got a job because he has no working experience) i however have 4 years working experience so could get a job easier.


try look for  a training provider.

they set me up with interveiws ect and got my a company to sponsor me. they trained me up for a year then sent me to my company, the training provider got my an nvq and i am now working on the next NVQ (higher level work baised one) with them.



IMO alot better than just going to uni.

when i qualified i will have 2 NVQs, National cert, HNC, real work experience for 4 years & will be starting my degree.

if i went to uni and college ide have a Diploma and a degree.and alot more debt
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Ant1981 on 11 October 2011, 13:12
Definately if you want the qualifiations.

Far better then learning at college.

But you still get sent to collage and get qualifications either way you do it.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: jnufcuk on 11 October 2011, 13:34
cool cheers for the help guys. got a bit of thinking to do lol

everyone was saying i should have stuck out my final year however there was no way i was getting into more debt when i wasnt learning anything. The course i signed up to was IT for multimedia (decription was, building websites, flahs etc etc) turns out the 2 years i spent at college/uni i learnt the same as what i learnt at A level IT and only deisnged 1 website in that time.

So no way i was paying them another 3k to learn feck all  :smiley:

Like mcgee said alot of companies if not most look for work experince but how are you supposed to get experince if no one is hiring (catch 22 really)

Just glad i got a job atm plus its not that bad pay just want something more brain challenging and better pay  :wink: (who doesnt)
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: JulesS3 on 11 October 2011, 13:48
You should have stuck out the 3rd year. Uni is first year - a-level, second year - advanced a-level, 3rd year Uni course.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: tshirt2k on 11 October 2011, 14:10
You can still enter an apprentiship with a higher qualification. It just means you have to do the next level. Depending on the trade, If they do it right, it will a year off the job, (Full time at college in the workshops plus a day release). Then you will have 3 years on the job with day release and having to do log books to show evidence of the skill you have gained.

Was hard work, but at least you have a portfolio of work that has been done over your period of training. Most employers like to see evidence like that. Its proof of you skills, plus it means the job can get started quickly, without having to wait for the candidate to get trained and up to speed.

I was supposed to go to uni for an engineering degree, but was tired of having no money. This was the best of both worlds. Qualified with experience :smug: All you need!


Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Sam on 11 October 2011, 14:14
You should have stuck out the 3rd year. Uni is first year - a-level, second year - advanced a-level, 3rd year Uni course.

Is it bollocks!
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: JulesS3 on 11 October 2011, 14:18
Costs a company around £2000 to background check details such as a degree, just lie and hope for the best  :laugh:
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: jnufcuk on 11 October 2011, 14:19
Costs a company around £2000 to background check details such as a degree, just lie and hope for the best  :laugh:

really? how come so much lol

Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Bellend on 11 October 2011, 14:39
Definately if you want the qualifiations.

Far better then learning at college.

But you still get sent to collage and get qualifications either way you do it.

Oh yeah of course.

But I just do paperwork at college and learn FAR more working to do the practical. :)
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: murraymint on 11 October 2011, 17:31
havnt read the whole thread but, i'd say yes, if you can get a good one!

i've got one working here

http://www.ndmetal.co.uk/default.asp

on £6 an hour which is good for an apprenticeship and no college or uni, due to there being no course about metal finish panel work
(did do a level one in car body repair and refinish first)
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: DOA on 11 October 2011, 17:49
You should have stuck out the 3rd year. Uni is first year - a-level, second year - advanced a-level, 3rd year Uni course.

Is it nuts!

He has pretty much described my experience at Uni, whats the beef  :huh:?

And to the OP, apprenticeships really are a good idea  :cool:.
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Sam on 11 October 2011, 18:06
You should have stuck out the 3rd year. Uni is first year - a-level, second year - advanced a-level, 3rd year Uni course.

Is it nuts!

He has pretty much described my experience at Uni, whats the beef  :huh:?

And to the OP, apprenticeships really are a good idea  :cool:.


Misread is, thought he said As, A then deg
Title: Re: Apprenticeships. Are they worth it?
Post by: Steve_PD on 11 October 2011, 20:07
Yes its worth it, I was in a similar stituation 5 years ago and then I got my apprenticeship and haven't looked back :wink:

In the new year company's and training centres will start looking for new apprentices. Until then deicide what trade you want to do.

Try the ECTIB they will pay for you to go to college for a year, pay for digs, travelling and £50 per week.  During that time you will do all you City and Guilds level 3 work, key skills and other courses eg first aider, rigging and slinging, cheery picker, fork lift, welding coding etc.  And find you a company who will take you onto their books as soon as you've finished (usually large engineering company's).

Then you do 2-3 years full time site work to build your NVQ level 3 log books then your done and earning double what you are now (triple with overtime)

Then its up to your company/yourself if you want to go to college and do your HNC and then UNI or like myself am going chargehand then foreman route hopefully manager one day.