Can my graduate son do an apprenticeship ?

[Rivypike]

He’s struggling to find any kind of paid employment. Applied for many positions, not fussy, certainly not expecting to walk into a highly paid job at this point.
A few months ago he applied for an IT post in the NHS. Although unsuccessful, it was a close call. He was placed in a talent pool and reassured that a suitable position was coming up that was essentially his. Fast forward 2 months and the funding for the job has been pulled. He’s now starting to panic as he’s been unemployed for a year almost and becoming extremely depressed. I’ve found an apprenticeship locally in business administration and am encouraging him to apply for it. He’s doubtful they’ll even consider him because he’s overqualified but most entry IT jobs seem to want office experience and this seems ideal. Just wondered if anyone had an older DC (Ds is 22) do an apprenticeship with a degree ? Is there any point getting hopes up and applying ? Thanks in advance

Other public services intake graduates as apprentices so worth a try. They often have more mature candidates too, hoping to career change. What level is the qualification offered, some may be limited by funding or provider to certain attainment levels.

When applying for an apprenticeship, employers will often ask if you have already started / completed a degree because this affects the funding rules and how long it might take to complete the apprenticeship.

You could suggest he reaches out to the employer to ask before he applies, shows some initiative, they might be able to give him an idea if it’s likely.

Yes.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

most entry IT jobs seem to want office experience

Has he looked at volunteering to build up some experience whilst he's unemployed?

Employers want someone proactive. And it would help with his mental health to be doing something productive.

https://www.ncvo.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities/

The company I work for offers apprenticeships where graduates can complete an MA, people I know who've done this really rate the experience although obviously, it's hard work.

Yes he’s doing some at a local charity. Not office based but with customer contact.
Just spoken to him and he now tells me that the manager dealing with him hasn’t said the offer has been pulled but that he’s not sure what’s going on. The dept is desperate for staff to enable it to function but the only funding going through is for nursing posts at the moment.
Anyway DS says he’ll read the bumf I sent him about the apprenticeship (which I’ve now discovered is at our local uni from where he graduated last year..) and chase it up on Tuesday.