Apprenticeships

Check out the labour market section of Routes to find out more about work opportunities in Newcastle. The Apprenticeship Vacancies Online system displays all the latest vacancies so that young people can search and apply for them. The live vacancy site displays opportunities anywhere in England. Ofcourse if you have already found an employer then you will need not worry about this.

If you apply for practical apprenticeships for example in Engineering or Construction you may well be asked to sit an aptitude test.

These tests are used by an employer to try and predict how well you will be suited to a particular type of job by measuring skills that are needed in that job. Usually you need to pass the test in order to be invited for an interview.

Download our Preparation for Aptitude Tests help sheet for some hints and tips.

Apprenticeships are becoming very popular and offer a great way to move your career forward. As an apprentice, you'll be given the very best training for a qualification by both learning providers and employers. In return, you'll be expected to use your training and studies to do the best job you can while you are at work.

There are many factors to consider if you're thinking seriously about an Apprenticeship such as the area of work you want to go for, the chances of finding a vacancy and whether you are ready to make the leap into the world of work. You may have had some experience of this route through the 'Young Apprenticeship' scheme in Years 10 and 11 and be ready to opt for it full time after Year 11. Whatever your reasons, do your research - the Apprenticeship route can be extremely rewarding but it's no easy ride!

An Apprenticeship can lead to continued training to the next level (eg, an Advanced Apprenticeship) or to full time employment. It is also possible to progress from an Apprenticeship to Higher Education. This is not widely known as it was not always the case but as long as you have achieved a Level 3 qualification through your training and can meet any other entry requirements then you can follow the HE route after your Apprenticeship.

There are two Apprenticeship levels available: an Apprenticeship is equivalent to five good GCSEs (a-c)and an Advanced Apprenticeship is equivalent to two A-levels(Or equiv quals eg Advanced Diploma). You can also be an Apprentice through other major employers eg, the armed forces or the merchant navy.

The first major difference is that you will spend most of your time at work. Because a lot of people will be investing in you,when you start an Apprenticeship you have to expect to work well and study hard. In contrast to what some people might think, being on an Apprenticeship is not an easy option. Some of your friends will be in full time study, some in full time work. You will be doing a mixture of both!

There are different levels of Apprenticeship available, but they all lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), Key Skills qualifications and, in most cases, a technical certificate such as a BTEC or City & Guilds. All NVQ levels have equivalent values to other qualifications eg, a Level 2 NVQ is equal to 5 GCSEs grades A*-C and a Level 3 NVQ to 2 A Levels/Advanced Diploma.

An Apprenticeship will usually take anything from 12 to 24 months. Because each apprenticeship is different, some might take less time to complete and some a lot more. Apprenticeships can take up to five years. How long it takes will depend on the type of apprenticeship and the ability of the apprentice as well as the employer's requirements.

It's difficult to say, but it will be no less than ?95 a week. Sometimes there are agreed rates for certain stages of an apprenticeship. This means you may get pay increases when you have a birthday, achieve a qualification or reach a certain standard. Like any other employee, you'll still have to pay tax and national insurance

First, you need to think about the type of job you want to do; doing an Apprenticeship means committing yourself to a very specific type of work. If you don't already know what you want to be it would be a good idea to seek further help. If you do know what type of job you want, go to the "Provider "section and select job area. You can also use the list above to check out what Apprenticeship providers are offering.