For Students

How apprenticeships work

Apprenticeships allow you to combine work and study by mixing on-the-job training with classroom learning. You'll be employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification, usually for one day a week either at a college or a training centre. By the end of your apprenticeship, you'll hopefully have gained the skills and knowledge needed to either succeed in your chosen career or progress onto the next apprenticeship level.

What you'll learn depends on the role that you're training for. However, apprentices in every role follow an approved study programme, which means you'll gain a nationally-recognised qualification at the end of your apprenticeship.

These qualifications can include:

• Functional skills - GCSE level qualifications in English, maths and IT.
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) - from level 2 (comparable to five GCSEs) up to level 5 (similar to a postgraduate degree).
• Technical certificates - such as BTEC, City and Guild Progression Award etc.
• Academic qualifications - including a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) foundation degree or the equivalent of a full Bachelors degree.

You'll also be constantly developing your transferable skills, otherwise known as soft skills, which are highly valued by employers. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving, as well as knowledge of IT and the application of numbers.

There are four different levels of apprenticeship:

• Intermediate - equivalent to five good GCSE passes.
• Advanced - equivalent to two A-level passes.
• Higher - equivalent to the first stages of higher education, such as a foundation degree.
• Degree - comparable to a Bachelors or Masters degree. Find out more at degree apprenticeships.

Types of apprenticeships

Most job sectors offer apprenticeship opportunities in the UK, with a wide range of specific roles on offer within each. These include:

• Business apprenticeships in roles such as accounting, marketing, people/HR administration, recruitment and sales.
• Construction apprenticeships in roles such as building, plumbing and quantity surveying.
• Engineering apprenticeships in roles such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
• Healthcare apprenticeships in roles such as dental, nursing and youth work, as well as NHS apprenticeships.
• IT apprenticeships in roles such as information security and software development.
• Law apprenticeships offered at paralegal, legal executive or solicitor level.
• Media apprenticeships in roles such as journalism, live events and costume design.

You'll be able to enter your chosen sector at an apprenticeship level that reflects your previous qualifications and the demands of the role.

Length of apprenticeships

The length of your apprenticeship will depend on a number of factors, such as the level of the apprenticeship, your chosen sector, employer requirements and your individual ability.

That being said, apprenticeships will usually last between one and six years.

Their length follows a basic framework:

• intermediate apprenticeships typically last between one year and 18 months
• advanced apprenticeships are usually studied over two years
• higher and degree apprenticeships take three-to-six years to complete.

It's worth checking directly with your chosen employer before applying to check how long your course will last, as some won't follow this structure.

Pay rates and working hours

If you're either aged under 19 and an apprentice, or 19 or over and still in your first year as an apprentice, you'll be entitled to the apprenticeship wage of £3.70 (from April 2018). Apprentices aged 19 or over and who've completed their first year will be able to claim the National Minimum Wage, which currently stands at £5.90 per hour (for those aged 18-20) or £7.38 (21-24).

This pay rate is stated as a guideline - some employers will pay you a higher wage. You'll also be entitled to sick pay, any additional benefits your employer offers to its other employees, such as healthcare plans and childcare vouchers, and at least 20 days of paid holiday per year. Use the GOV.UK Holiday Calculator to work out your exact entitlement.

Your working hours will vary depending on your employer, but you won't be able to work more than 40 hours per week or any fewer than 30. Typically, you'll work between 35 and 37.5 hours per week. The sector you're entering will determine the nature of your daily working hours - while most apprentices can expect to work a 9am-5.30pm day with an hour's break for lunch, those in hospitality or healthcare roles, for instance, should expect to work antisocial shifts.

Entry requirements

As each type of apprenticeship offers a different-leveled qualification on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), their entry requirements will vary. Generally speaking, they are as follows:

• To apply for an intermediate apprenticeship, you'll just need to be over 16 years old and no longer in full-time education.
• For an advanced apprenticeship, you're likely to be asked for prior work experience and at least three A*-C or 9-4 grade GCSEs or equivalent - such as an intermediate apprenticeship qualification.
• As higher apprenticeships are the equivalent of a foundation degree, HNC or first year of a Bachelors, you'll usually need at least five A*-C or 9-4 grade GCSEs, as well as some Level 3 qualifications in relevant subjects, to apply. Your Level 3 qualifications could be AS-levels, a BTEC National or a level 3 NVQ.
• Degree apprenticeships will have the tightest entry requirements. These may include three A-levels in a specified grade range or a higher apprenticeship qualification, on top of at least five A*-C or 9-4 GCSE grades. It's likely you'll be required to have prior work experience.

You can apply for apprenticeships at any time of the year - it all depends when an employer has a vacancy. You'll be able to check the specific entry requirements of your chosen apprenticeship once the position opens. There is no upper age limit on being an apprentice. As long as you're over 16 and have the right credentials, you'll be eligible to apply for your chosen apprenticeship.

If you start your apprenticeship after you turn 19, you may be entitled to additional government funding - find out more about what's on offer at Student Finance England - Advanced Learner Loan.

The difference between an apprenticeship and an internship

The terms 'apprenticeship' and 'internship' are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably. To ensure you're applying for the right positions, it's important to understand the differences between these opportunities.

Apprenticeships are:

• formal employment programmes and as such you'll sign a contract with your employer
• long-term and take between one to four years to complete
• more suited to those with a clear idea of what sector they'd like to work in and what career path they'd like to follow
• commonly undertaken by school leavers
• designed to provide specific work-based training. Apprentices learn by actually doing the job
• a way for apprentices to gain formal qualifications such as NVQs, foundation degrees and technical certificates
• paid, as at the very least you'll receive the National Minimum Wage
• a direct route to employment, with the majority of apprentices guaranteed a job on completion of their programme.

Internships are:

• informal arrangements as more often than not no employment contracts are signed
• short-term, limited periods lasting between one week and 12 months
• geared towards providing an insight to those who may be unsure of what career direction to take
• typically undertaken by students and graduates
• work-based learning opportunities, which focus more on supplying interns with transferable skills and experience for their CV rather than job-specific skills or formal qualifications
• temporary, with no guarantee of employment on completion.

T Levels are new courses for September 2020, which will follow GCSEs and will be equivalent to 3 A Levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work.

T Levels will offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days). They will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

Students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas:

• accountancy
• agriculture, land management and production
• animal care and management
• building services engineering
• catering
• craft and design
• cultural heritage and visitor attractions
• design and development
• design, surveying and planning
• digital business services
• digital production, design and development
• digital support and services
• education
• financial
• hair, beauty and aesthetics
• health
• healthcare science
• human resources
• legal
• maintenance, installation and repair
• management and administration
• manufacturing, processing and control
• media, broadcast and production
• onsite construction
• science

When they will start

The first 3 T Levels will be available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England in September 2020. This means pupils who entered year 10 in September 2018 will be the first to be able to study them.

A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021.

How T Levels will work with other qualifications

T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside:

• apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
• A levels for students who wish to continue academic education

 T Levels will be based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). The total time for a T Level to be around 1,800 hours over the 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses.

This differs from an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who know what occupation they want to pursue, want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.

How T Levels are being developed

Employers and providers are working together to develop each T Level, with support from DfE and the Institute. Groups of employers define the skills and requirements for each T Level course by participating in T Level panels. This ensures that students taking T Levels will develop the technical knowledge and skills required by employers in that industry.

The T Level panels have been developing the content for the qualification, based on the same standards as apprenticeships and these plans are being tested and reviewed with students, education providers and employers.

Structure of a T Level

T Level courses will include the following compulsory elements:

• a technical qualification, which will include:
  • core theory, concepts and skills for an industry area
  • specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career
• an industry placement with an employer
• a minimum standard in maths and English if students have not already achieved them

Industry placements

Every T Level will include an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. These will last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer. Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary.

Providers will support employers offering industry placements. This will include assistance with the necessary paperwork, a careful planning process and support with designing the industry placement.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and National Apprenticeship Service (part of ESFA) will work with employers and providers on industry placements.

Grading and certification

Students who complete their T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. They will get a nationally recognised certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.

The T Level certificate will include:

• an overall grade for the T Level, shown as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
• a separate grade for the core component, using A* to E
• a separate grade for each occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction

It will also include confirmation that the student has:

• met the minimum requirements for Math and English qualifications
• completed the industry placement
• met any additional mandatory requirements

A student’s overall T Level grade will be worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialism(s).

Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level will get a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.

UCAS tariff points

T Levels will provide several progression options to students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and higher education.

To help T Level students get into higher education, UCAS tariff points will be allocated to T Levels.

UCAS points will only be allocated to the overall T Level grade. Students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.

Timeline

Autumn 2020

First T Level courses start for specific occupations in 3 industries:

• digital production, design and development
• design, surveying and planning
• education

Autumn 2021

T Level courses start in these subject areas:

• building services engineering
• digital business services
• digital support and services
• health
• healthcare science
• onsite construction
• science

Autumn 2022

T Level courses start in these subject areas:

• legal
• financial
• accountancy
• maintenance, installation and repair
• manufacturing and process
• design, development and control
• human resources
• management and administration

Autumn 2023

T Level courses start in these subject areas:

• animal care and management
• agriculture, land management and production
• craft and design
• cultural heritage and visitor attractions
• media, broadcast and production
• hair, beauty and aesthetics
• catering

Find out more

If you’re interested in finding out more about T Levels, visit the new website where you can add your postcode to find colleges, schools or other providers who’ll be offering the first 3 T Levels in 2020.

Watch industry placement videos to hear from students and employers who have benefitted from industry placements. Read the T Level action plan for detailed information about how the government are developing T Level qualifications for post-16 students.

We are fortunate to have several outstanding post 16 providers in our local area offering a huge array of vocational and academic courses to extend learning in a diverse range of sectors.  Look at the links below to learn more about what is on offer in the local area and add their open days to your calendar:

Local Sixth Form

King James’s School

Harrogate Grammar School

Rossett High School

St John Fisher Catholic High School

St Aidan’s Church of England High School

FE Colleges

Askham Bryan College 

Harrogate College

Leeds City College

York College