{"id":2825,"date":"2022-02-11T14:54:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T14:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/?p=2825"},"modified":"2022-10-07T08:13:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T08:13:07","slug":"apprenticeships-are-they-for-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/uncategorized\/apprenticeships-are-they-for-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Apprenticeships &#8211; are they for me?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#e2e2e2;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:104%;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div style=\"text-align:right;\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"292\" height=\"299\" title=\"guitar\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/guitar.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/guitar.png\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-2826\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27292%27%20height%3D%27299%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20292%20299%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27292%27%20height%3D%27299%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/guitar-200x205.png 200w, https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/guitar.png 292w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 292px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:33.333333333333% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 5.76%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 5.76%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:33.333333333333% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 5.76%;margin-left : 5.76%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"margin-right:200px;\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\">It was 10pm, let\u2019s be honest a few G&amp;Ts down, whereupon my nephew asked the age old question; \u2018So what is better then, an Apprenticeship or a Degree?\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>My nephew is a Year 10 student, and we\u2019d been chatting about what his options for the future might be.\u00a0 He has great academic grades but really a passion for all things creative and a dream of making his own guitars, combining his passions of music and woodwork.\u00a0 He\u2019s made some already and over-looking the Aunty bias, they are <strong><em>amazing<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>So as a Careers Professional, how do you answer a question like this?\u00a0 What should you say as a parent, an aunty, a friend, a carer?\u00a0 If it\u2019s yourself you\u2019re making this decision for, what do you need to know? Here are some of the key discussion points and considerations to help you with such a decision.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:66.666666666667% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 2.88%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 2.88%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:66.666666666667% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 2.88%;margin-left : 2.88%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p><strong>Breadth of subject<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Apprenticeships are, generally speaking, quite specific, vocational, and focus on one particular type of job and\/or sector. \u00a0In some cases, especially often larger firms, you may also get a little breadth from working across different teams as part of your training and this could be a good thing to ask about at interview.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re really struggling to decide what your future career holds, then the very broad range of subjects on offer at university may appeal.\u00a0 It is important to research these thoroughly as even a degree with the same name, may vary a lot from university to university.<\/p>\n<p>As well as the different subject contents, the way you will learn is also very different between the two so thinking about how you enjoy learning is crucial.\u00a0 Degrees tend to be more theory based, focused on academia and essay writing and lectures, whereas apprenticeships are much more practical and about learning through doing.\u00a0 Again, these are key things to look at as part of your research as even with degrees, some subjects will have more practical elements than others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Level of qualification<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Technically, a degree is a higher level qualification than many apprenticeships, however there are now ever increasing frameworks for more advanced apprenticeships, including degree level.<\/p>\n<p>If you know the career you are looking at, it\u2019s also important you see if you have to get a degree to get into it as some careers do still require it.\u00a0 An increasing number of roles\/sectors now no longer require a degree but some of the apprenticeships they would accept may exist but not be available in your area.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Lived experience<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Going to university isn\u2019t just about the degree itself, it\u2019s about all the things around that experience including potentially living away from home and social aspects, from joining clubs and societies to nights out (without having to tell your Mum what time you\u2019ll be home).<\/p>\n<p>With an Apprenticeship, you won\u2019t get this experience.\u00a0 However, you may find you make similar connections through other apprentices, particularly if you work for an organisation that takes on many apprentices at the same time.\u00a0 What you won\u2019t be able to do, is go on crazy nights out if you\u2019ve got to be at work the next day (even though you\u2019ll be earning a wage and ironically able to afford it more than a student actually can).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Work experience<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Critical to the Apprenticeship experience is that you are getting work experience as part of your qualification and this will be looked on very favourably by employers.<\/p>\n<p>With a degree you don\u2019t get this experience often but some degrees do include a placement year, or sometimes shorter work experience and placements.\u00a0 You can also make proactive use of the long holidays to build up your work experience.\u00a0 None of this is as thorough as the kind of work exposure and work skills you get as an apprentice but it is useful none the less.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Financial considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is no escaping the huge debt you will get into as a student.\u00a0 You can apply for a loan, to cover your tuition fees and a (means tested) loan to cover other things like potential living costs and other expenses.\u00a0 Whilst you don\u2019t have to start making repayments until you are earning \u00a327,288 or more, it is a financial burden you will carry with you for some time.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if you are under 25 and doing an apprenticeship, you won\u2019t be paying a penny for your learning.\u00a0 You\u2019ll also be earning a salary (although potentially a lower than average one as you will be a trainee and your employer is investing in you not just with your salary and other associated costs, but with your training and time).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are you ready?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Earning whilst you learn might sound great but whilst as part of the apprenticeship you are given time to study, you will be effectively juggling study and working.\u00a0 Add to that all the usual pressures of any job including being reliable, turning up on time, dealing with difficult people and managing a heavy workload, it isn\u2019t for everyone straight away after sixth form\/college.\u00a0 You will also find that there isn\u2019t a one size fits all simple place to look for apprenticeship vacancies either\u2026 there is no UCAS equivalent.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst you don\u2019t have to go away to study at university, many students do and you need to weigh up if you feel ready for such a big step.\u00a0 Nerves and anxious anticipation are completely normal, but if it feels like more than that, it\u2019s maybe a good idea to talk it all through with a trusted person in your life.<\/p>\n<p>Both options will also require a lot from you in terms of applications and selling your amazingness, so starting to prepare for this as early as possible is a good idea.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And some final advice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Unless you are 100% set on a role that 100% requires a degree, <strong>this is ultimately going to come down to what is right for you<\/strong>, both for now and for your career plans for the future.\u00a0 And the only way that you\u2019ll know what is right for you, your friend, your child, is to make sure you thoroughly research all the options.\u00a0 There is no \u2018one size fits all\u2019 option for any of us when it comes to our career journeys and so it\u2019s all about researching what will get us to where we want to be and where we\u2019ll be happy in the journey.<\/p>\n<\/div><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1055\" height=\"258\" title=\"about the author 2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1.png\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-3504\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271055%27%20height%3D%27258%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201055%20258%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271055%27%20height%3D%27258%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1-200x49.png 200w, https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1-400x98.png 400w, https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1-600x147.png 600w, https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1-800x196.png 800w, https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/about-the-author-2-1.png 1055w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1055px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and 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30px;}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[42,45,43,46,47,44,48],"class_list":["post-2825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-apprenticeships","tag-apprenticeshipvsdegree","tag-apprenticeshipweek","tag-bestforme","tag-careerchoices","tag-careersfamily","tag-wearecareers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/2826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}