Advantages and disadvantages

There are many advantages in training as an Apprentice. Here are just a few:

• You get paid. The level of pay depends on your employer and the skill area in which you are training. But, compared to staying on at school or college, where you may have to work in the evenings or at the weekends to earn some money, you're going to be better off.
• You will learn by a combination of attending college, your training provider and your employer. You are out of the school classroom and much of the learning will be by doing things rather than having to remember facts. So if you don't enjoy school then this may be a better option for you.
• You gain recognised qualifications - NVQs, Key Skills and a Technical Certificate.
• You will be trained to do a job. So, unlike those who stay on at school and take A Levels, you will have a qualification that shows that you have the skills necessary to do that job. Employers know that they will not have to spend a lot of time training you - you will have the ability to 'hit the ground running' and, all being well, a good reference from your employer to support you.
• If you want to gain a higher qualification such as a HNC, HND, Foundation Degree or Honours Degree and you have a supportive employer, you can continue to study on a part-time basis while continuing to receive a wage. In this way you can avoid the huge debts that full-time undergraduates face.

There may be some disadvantages - it depends on the skill area and your preferred method of learning:

• If you want to go to university it may take longer to get there with some Apprenticeships, depending on the subject area.
• If you want to continue to study at a higher level on a part-time basis this will also take longer - but remember, you need to balance this against the future debt of full-time study.
• You may be more suited to classroom study and full time education.
• Not all occupations offer Apprenticeships, so you may have no option but to take the academic route.
• The range of courses you can study at higher level may be more limited. Universities still understand A levels better than Apprenticeships, but this is changing and, as long as you choose a course that is a natural progression from your training, this should not stop you.

So, make your choice - an Apprenticeship is just another way of pursuing your career, it’s not second best. In fact, many employers prefer apprentice-trained people to those who have just left school, college or university.

Click here for further information on Apprenticeships.