Employment and Apprenticeships

Businesses create jobs to meet their day-to-day operational needs, and each role necessitates a clearly outlined duties and responsibilities, salary range and candidate qualifications. While entry level positions and apprenticeships share some similarities, they differ due to the mandatory formal training requirement of the apprenticeship role. 

Apprenticeships are a type of occupation where employment and education meet. Also known as school leaver programmes, they were created to provide an alternative route for students who want to start their career directly after either GCSEs or post 18 study. Apprenticeship schemes provide an opportunity to join a business and enjoy the benefits of on-the-job training, earning a wage and paid holiday. 

Apprenticeship opportunities are available to students across a wide range of industries such as Business, Finance, Law, Retail, Construction, Engineering, Health Care and Hospitality, to name a few. School leaver apprenticeships typically last anywhere between one and five years, and students will spend most their time with an employer, whilst also continuing to study for further training and qualifications. The structure of the programme will depend on the company that organises them, but all have 3 defining features: 

• You will be employed on a part-time or full-time basis. 
• You will work towards a nationally recognised qualification. 
• You will earn a salary and get paid for study periods. 

The employment application process may differ slightly depending on the role and/or company. Some vacancies have online application forms to fill out or questions to respond to; others just ask for a CV and cover letter. The Careers Department can support students in with both exploring employment and apprenticeship opportunities and preparing CVs, application letters and interview preparation and practice. Useful employment and apprenticeship resources can be found here.