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APPRENTICESHIPS

A GUIDE FOR

STUDENTS AND

PARENTS

Apprenticeships are a great way for aspiring professionals to gain essential work-based experience whilst developing their repertoire of employability skills and sector-specific knowledge. Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to work directly within a specific industry whilst earning a wage and gaining a recognised qualification that can kick-start or further enhance a successful career.

WHY BECOME AN APPRENTICE?1. Earn while you learn – apprentices are fully contracted employees in the workplace and earn a weekly wage.

2. Strengthen your CV – apprentices develop their skills and industry knowledge throughout their apprenticeship programme, adding invaluable experience to their employment history.

3. Gain a qualification – upon completion of an apprenticeship, apprentices will gain a nationally and industry recognised qualification between Level 2 and Level 5, dependent upon their chosen route.

4. No debt – by studying an apprenticeship whilst working, apprentices will avoid the tuition fees associated with university study.

5. Networking opportunities – by working directly in their chosen career sector, apprentices have the opportunity to create vital industry contacts that may lead to future promotional opportunities.

ENTRY CRITERIA & DURATIONAll apprenticeships at York College have entry criteria – you must achieve a certain level of prior learning to be able to join the course. Entry requirements vary depending on the course so please check on the apprenticeships section of the York College website.

Apprenticeships take from a minimum of one to five years to complete, depending on the apprenticeship.

METHOD OF DELIVERY & ASSESSMENTOur apprenticeship programmes are assessed by a combination of portfolios, online tests and practical assessments in the workplace or College workshops. There will be either day or block release to York College, dependent on the apprenticeship, or this may be able to be delivered entirely in your place of work.

WHAT NEXT?Upon completion of the programme, apprentices can progress to higher level qualifications and usually continue their employment within the company they have been working with.

81%overall success

rate for our Apprenticeship

provision

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Area Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5Business and Professional • • • •Accountancy • • •Business Administration • •Customer Service • •Team Leading, Supervision and Management • •Digital Marketer •Construction • •Carpentry and Joinery • •Construction Contracting Operations •Installation/Maintenance Electrician •Painting & Decorating • •Plastering • •Plumbing and Heating •Stonemasonry • •Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying) • •Wood Occupations • •Dental • •Dental Nurse •Dental Practice Manager •Engineering • • •Engineering Design Draughtsperson •Electrical Electronic •Fabrication & Welding •Maintenance and Operational Engineering •Mechanical Manufacturing •Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair/ Technician • •Hairdressing and Beauty • •Hairdressing Professional/Hairdressing • •Healthcare • • •Healthcare Support Worker •Senior Healthcare Support Worker •Healthcare Assistant Practitioner •Hospitality • •Chef de Partie •Commis Chef •Hospitality Team Member/ Supervisor • •Professional Cookery • •IT • • •Application Specialist (IT User) • •Infrastructure Technician •Software Developer •Science • •Laboratory Technician •Laboratory Scientist •Science Manufacturing Technician •

APPRENTICESHIPS AVAILABLE AT YORK COLLEGE

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INFORMATION FOR STUDENTSWHO CAN BE AN APPRENTICE?Anyone living in England aged over 16 and not in full-time education can be an apprentice. To start an apprenticeship you must be employed within a business that covers the range of work required to complete your chosen apprenticeship route and you must also have a contract of employment for a minimum of 30 hours per week. If you are not currently in relevant employment, this is something we can help with. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to progress in your career as you can work up to achieve a degree level apprenticeship in many disciplines without paying the fees associated with university study. For existing staff, apprenticeships are a great opportunity for CPD (continuing professional development), career development and progressing to a higher level in the workplace, offering a training and support programme tailored to your sector’s needs.

WAGESThe national minimum wage for apprentices from 1st April 2017 is £3.50 per hour and this applies to time working and time spent training as part of the apprenticeship. The wage applies to all apprentices aged under 19 and apprentices aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship. The majority of employers pay above the minimum wage, with the average apprentice wage being £13,746 per annum (Reed.co.uk).

DURATIONDuration of apprenticeships vary depending on which programme you choose. You will gain job specific skills in the workplace and may also attend York College for additional learning on day or block release. If you are required to do Functional Skills qualifications you must achieve these before you are put forward to the end-point assessment.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A YORK COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIPOur apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on our website at www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships

You can find general information about apprenticeships at www.getingofar.gov.uk

You can also email your CV to the York College Business Development Unit (businessdevelopment@yorkcollege.ac.uk) stating what apprenticeship you are interested in and we will send details of relevant vacancies to you. We can also help with CV development, interview techniques and your overall job search.

To discuss apprenticeships further please contact the Business Development Unit on 01904 770368.

100%overall success

rate for our Construction

Specialist Apprenticeship

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‘‘ I chose York College as there are good opportunities to progress and everyone was really friendly and welcoming at the Open Event. I also know lots of people who came here as it is local to me. I’m really enjoying learning about the elements of costing as it works hand in hand with accountancy – being able to work out pay is really useful. ’’Rosie Hammond, AAT Level 2 Accounting Apprentice with Mollan & Co. Accountants ‘‘My brother is in the year above and recommended this apprenticeship. I enjoy doing the practical work and being hands-on whilst also having the opportunity to compete in bricklaying competitions. Coming into College definitely helps me when I’m at work. In the future I’d like to go into the family business or set up a bricklaying business with my brother and be self-employed. ’’Alex Young, Level 2 Bricklaying Apprentice with his family’s business

‘‘ I travel from Scarborough to study the course, I’ve definitely learnt things that I wouldn’t have learnt at work. ’’Luke Westwood, Level 3 Applied Science Apprentice with the Food & Environment Research Agency

‘‘ I’m doing an apprenticeship as it’s good money, I wanted to learn a trade and have always enjoyed decorating at home. I’m really enjoying it at York College and will hopefully be able to stay-on with my company in the future. ’’Katie Cammidge, Level 3 Painting & Decorating Apprentice with Novus Property Solutions

‘‘ I’m enjoying the course, it’s really interesting. I’ve always grown up messing about with bikes and had a general interest in the craft. Learning the theory side at College definitely makes the job easier. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay with my company in the future. ’’Joshua Woodcock, Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Apprentice with J Petty Motors

‘‘ I live in Harrogate where there is no facility to do plastering locally. I looked at other colleges but they seemed too big, York College has great facilities and you get more one-on-one tuition than you would elsewhere. ’’Jake Barnes, Level 2 Plastering Apprentice with Cameron Plastering

WHAT OUR APPRENTICES SAY…

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INFORMATION FOR PARENTSAt York College we know that parents and carers want their children to find the type of education that’s right for them.

For many young people, an apprenticeship can be an ideal and enjoyable route into a successful career and this section will help you understand how they work.

WHAT ARE APPRENTICESHIPS?An apprenticeship is a real job with a contract of employment which is supported by a detailed and specific training programme. This means your son or daughter will earn a wage whilst working towards their apprenticeship, gaining invaluable on-the-job knowledge and experience from industry experts.

DURATIONDuration of apprenticeships vary depending on which programme you choose. You will gain job specific skills in the workplace and may also attend York College for additional learning on day or block release. If you are required to do Functional Skills qualifications you must achieve these before you are put forward to the end-point assessment.

THE BENEFITSThe benefits of doing an apprenticeship are:

• Earning a salary and being treated as an employee, including getting paid holidays

• Learning at your own pace, with the full support of a mentor in your workplace

• Great future earning potential

• Fantastic opportunity for real future career development, as apprenticeships are now offered up to degree level with financial support from employers so apprentices really can climb the career ladder

• Developing skills in a supportive environment to help with career progression

• Higher level apprentices can gain a degree-level qualification without paying the tuition fees associated with university

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HOW DO APPRENTICESHIP QUALIFICATIONS COMPARE TO OTHER COURSES?

Name Level Equivalent Educational Level

Intermediate 2 5 GCSE passes at A* to C/9 to 4

Advanced 3 2 A Level passes

Higher 4, 5, 6 and 7 Foundation degree and above

Degree 6 and 7 Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

WHO CAN APPLY?Anyone over the age of 16, living in England and not currently in full time education can do an apprenticeship. They must also be employed with a contract of employment for 30 hours or more per week (we can help with this). Academic entry requirements differ from job to job and the relevant apprenticeship.

WAGESThe minimum wage for apprentices is £3.50 per hour, but many employers pay more than this. Pay amounts depend on the sector, region and apprenticeship level. For example, some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £300 - £500 per week, with the average apprentice wage being £13,746 per annum (Reed.co.uk).

EARNING POTENTIALAlmost a quarter (23%) of apprentices are promoted within 12 months of completing their apprenticeship. On average, individuals with an advanced apprenticeship earn between £77,000 and £117,000, more over their lifetime than similar individuals with Level 2 (GCSE) qualifications.

100%overall success

rate for our Higher

Apprenticeship provision

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APPRENTICESHIP SUCCESSES

NATIONAL SKILLBUILD FINAL York College CITB construction apprentices Charlie Young and Lewis Greenwood secured a place in the UK final of SkillBuild; the country’s most prestigious and longest running construction skills competition organised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

After winning the coveted Silver Medal, Lewis has now been selected for the SkillBuild National Squad and potentially could join Squad UK for the international competition WorldSkills Kazan 2019!

Lewis, aged 20, works for PDS Construction in Wetherby and is formerly of Tadcaster Grammar School. He says: “I have enjoyed my bricklaying apprenticeship and I’m amazed to make it into Squad UK, my training has gone well and I’m excited to compete on the world stage.”

Congratulations also to York College CITB apprentice Charlie Young, who was Highly Commended at the national final.

York College brickwork tutor Harpal Sambi is proud of both apprentices, saying: “It was a hard competition and Lewis and Charlie demonstrated their skills very well. Big congratulations to Lewis particularly - he really nailed it. Winning Silver means he now goes through to Squad UK and has a chance of going to Kazan in 2019! The Construction team at York College will continue to support him as he progresses in the competition.”

LABORATORY SCIENCE APPRENTICE IS DOUBLE AWARD WINNERFormer York College apprentice Joseph Turton celebrated success as a double award winner for his outstanding work on the Laboratory and Science Advanced Apprenticeship pathway.

Joe was first awarded Advanced Apprentice of the Year in 2013 and was subsequently awarded Chemical Sciences Apprentice of the Year 2014.

Joe secured his apprenticeship aged 16 as a Science Laboratory Technician and has now gained a full time role as an Assistant Scientist for the Food Environment Research Agency (FERA) at Sand Hutton.

Joe explains how his apprenticeship at York College has led to his success. He said: “The best piece of advice I would give a young person starting their career, whatever that may be, would be to find something they are really passionate about – for me it was science. Then seriously consider it and do some research into whether an apprenticeship offers something for you. The most obvious path seemed to be to go to York College and study my apprenticeship – I haven’t looked back since.”

Joe’s hard work and determination not only led to a full time role but after attending the Royal Society of Chemistry awards ceremony in Manchester, he received a cash prize, medal and additional funding towards his professional development.

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WORK PLACEMENT BUSINESS STUDENT REAPS REWARDS FOR SEAT SURGEONSLuke Burnett was taken on by Seat Surgeons, an automotive leather interior firm four days a week to set up the business’s social media and digital marketing. Within five weeks he had secured high value orders and built up a page for the firm on the social media site Instagram, attracting 2,400 followers. One of the followers, Tyson Fury, then went on to place an order for his wife’s car. The boxer told the company he had been attracted by Luke’s pictures on the firm’s Instagram account.

Paul Hewitt, Managing Director of Seat Surgeons said: “Taking on a work placement student was a great way to meet potential employees, particularly students who were interested in our business. During the placement, Luke gained a good knowledge of working in the business and grew in confidence and motivation. He was even successful in finding us new business and generated over £20,000 in sales from the initial work he did! I was so impressed with Luke’s performance and work ethic I employed him as our Digital Marketing Apprentice and the orders continue to come in! Luke’s success has led us to take on another York College work placement student, Ethan Brown. Both students are having a chance to put their ideas into practice in a business environment and can see real-life results from their campaigns.”

SALLY WINS ADULT APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Having worked in a local department store for more than 10 years, Sally Nelson decided it was time to focus on a career. She never dreamed she would go on to collect the 2015 Apprentice of the Year (over 25s) award at York Minster.

Sally explains why she wanted to try something different. “I needed a career that could better support my two children; they’d reached an age that would allow me to juggle studying and being a mum without them missing out,” she said.

Sally knew that going back to learning would be a huge change and was careful to find the right type of study. She wasn’t afraid to try a complete change of direction though, securing an Apprenticeship opportunity as an electrician with the Joseph Rowntree Housing Foundation (JRHT).

“I found an apprenticeship worked well for me, as a single mum of two, as I was able to earn and study at the same time. I was quite scared when I got the job at the JRHT as I was going from a very glamorous, mainly female, environment to an all-male environment!”

During her first year, Sally was able to study three days a week and keep her department store job on for the remaining two days, a great help in making ends meet. She attended College one day a week while working full time and completed the course in September 2014. Sally is now working full-time for the JRHT.

Looking back, Sally admits it wasn’t all plain sailing, but says she always had the support she needed: “Having left school so long ago I found the course work hard but the College has fantastic tutors that really helped me.”

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HOW TO BECOME AN APPRENTICEAt York College the Business Development Unit can help you find the right employer for your apprenticeship. They can answer any questions you have and tell you about apprenticeship job vacancies that are available right now. You can call them on 01904 770368 or visit www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships

You can also e-mail your CV to businessdevelopment@yorkcollege.ac.uk stating what apprenticeship you are interested in and we will send details of relevant vacancies to you.

Other sources of information are:

• www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

• www.getingofar.gov.uk

Applying for an apprenticeship is a lot like applying for a job. You look through the vacancies advertised, you pick out which ones you like the look of, and you apply. For help with CV development, application forms, interview techniques and your overall job search, just contact the York College Business Development Unit on 01904 770368.

90%of apprentices stay in

employment after finishing their apprenticeship

71%of apprentices stay with

the same employer

82%said their apprenticeship had

improved their ability to do the job and 79% said their career

prospects had improved

GENERAL APPRENTICESHIP FACTS

81%overall success

rate for our Apprenticeship

provision, 12% higher than national average

79%overall success rate

for our Intermediate Apprenticeship

provision, 10% higher than national average

81%overall success rate for our Advanced Apprenticeship

provision, 12% higher than national average

100%overall success

rate for our Higher Apprenticeship

provision, a huge 38% above the

national average

YORK COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIP FACTS

Source: ‘100 years of Apprenticeships’: www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-facts-about-apprenticeships

81%overall success rate for our Advanced Apprenticeship

provision

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OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTSIf you don’t feel an apprenticeship is right for you then you may be interested in one of the following options also available at York College.

HIGHER EDUCATIONYork College offers a range of degree programmes that have in-built flexibility to meet your individual skill requirements. We provide an extensive range of programmes which are vocational, employment-related and taught by fully trained and specialist staff. We equip students with research and study skills, as well as the confidence and self-discipline to help them grow as independent learners with a lifelong appetite for education.

With a wide range of programmes designed to equip graduates with employment skills, York College offers Higher Education students an outstanding learning environment in which to flourish.

At York College, we offer undergraduate courses validated by York St John University and students enjoy being taught in smaller groups and having more contact time with specialist tutors, all with a wealth of industry experience.

We offer courses in the following areas:

at most universities and results prove that students really do achieve. Last year, 74% of students graduating from BA (Hons) programmes achieved a First Class or 2:1 Degree classification and 70% of Foundation Degree graduates achieved a merit or distinction grade. HNC programmes also performed to exceptional standards.

Visit www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/higher-education for more information.

ADULT LEARNINGAt York College we offer a variety of courses for adults, ranging from industry-recognised professional qualifications, courses to help with retraining for a career change, and courses purely for leisure and personal development.

Our professional courses cover a wide range of subjects from SAGE Software Training to a Level 2 Award in Dyslexia Training and Level 3 City & Guilds Diploma in Travel and Tourism. We also offer Access to Higher Education Diplomas in ten different pathways, including Business and Science, as a non-traditional route into higher education.

With supportive tutors and state of the art facilities, we have an excellent track record for helping students enjoy new experiences, from photography to bakery and MIG welding, enabling them to succeed within a supportive learning environment.

Help is also available with basic skills like Maths and English – whatever your starting point there is a course to suit you, with regular induction sessions available too.

Andrea Shepherd, Assistant Principal for Higher Education, International, Adult Learning and Development says: “The College offers a superb learning environment for adults. Our tutors enjoy working with all kinds of students, helping them to achieve and gain a variety of skills and qualifications. Even if you’ve never visited the College before, this is the perfect way to get to know us.”

• Art & Design

• Business & Professional Studies

• Child Studies

• Construction

• Digital Technologies

• Education

• Engineering

• Health & Social Care

• Media Make-up

• Public Services

• Science

• Sports Therapy

The fees at York College are lower than

YORK COLLEGE OPEN EVENTS 2018-19Thursday 18th October 2018

Monday 12th November 2018

Saturday 24th November 2018

Wednesday 6th February 2019

Tuesday 25th June 2019

MKT0119/0818

For more information about apprenticeships please contact us:

01904 770368

businessdevelopment@yorkcollege.ac.uk

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