National Apprenticeship Week 2015

This week was National Apprenticeship week. One of the options open to students after the age of 16 is to train through an Apprenticeship scheme. In short, Apprenticeships are available across a range of sectors and at levels to suit all abilities.

They aim to improve your skills, measure your capabilities and provide you with a nationally recognised qualification.

This is a way of learning the skills necessary for various careers while earning at the same time.

An Apprenticeship will often suit young people who do not want to go into full-time further or higher education, but still want to gain extra qualifications that are work related.

There are more than 190 different occupations in which you can train through an Apprenticeship, from animal care to building trades, from administration to catering. For a level 2 apprenticeship you may need some GCSE subjects at grades A - C.

For a level 3 programme (called an Advanced Apprenticeship) you will normally need five GCSEs, often including English, Science and Mathematics, or have already completed A-Level 2. To find an apprenticeship in your area head over to www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for more information.