How Apprenticeships Work

On an apprenticeship, you're employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification, usually for one day a week either at a college or 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

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Apprenticeship Levels *

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.



*Apprenticeship level structures vary across different countries in the UK.

If you aren't based in England, see Apprenticeships in Wales, Apprenticeships in Scotland or NI Direct Apprenticeships for more information.



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