Where to look for apprenticeships after A levels

[Treeleaf11]

Hi
DS is in yr12 doing A levels. Doesn't think he wants to go to uni but hasn't completely ruled it out. He is a bit clueless about what he wants to do and is a bit head in the sand.
Apart from the Govt apprenticeship site/Indeed and Ucas where is best to look for apprenticeships to give him some inspiration? School seem to push everyone to uni so haven't been much help. He will probably get As and Bs predicted.

Look at individual company sites in the areas he’s thinking of studying, or companies in your area. For example, for accounting and business, look at the EY, PWC etc. However, think laterally as well. I had a friend who did an IT apprenticeship in the NHS and another who is doing HR with British Airways, so most major companies offer courses in their non-core business.

Some links:

jobs.bt.com/content/Apprenticeships---BT-Group/

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/nhs-apprenticeships

https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/careers/apprenticeships

https://careers.baesystems.com/locations/uk/apprentices

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/early-careers/

careers.bbc.co.uk/content/EC_Home/?locale=en_GB

Thanks for these!

Why did he do a levels if he doesn't want to go to uni? Not being argumentative, but asking because that is the point of A levels.

Lots of entry level jobs and apprenticeships require A levels! You can start training for eg accountancy straight from A levels.

Nearly everyone stays on at school nowadays. It’s unusual to leave at year 11 unless you go to college. Very few people leave to start jobs nowadays at that age.,

He didnt know at 15/16 whether he wanted to go to Uni or what job he wanted to do (still doesnt). A levels were keeping all options open.

Yes, I understand that things have changed since I was young.
Nevertheless, A-levels are a preparation for university and not for any job so my question is still valid.

Not any more.

How have they been changed to prepare youngsters for the world of work?

Only around 2 in 3 A level students go onto university, so it is not the case that A levels are exclusively a pathway to, or exclusively a preparation for, university. Indeed, when A levels were first introduced, I suspect a far higher proportion of A level students went straight into employment of some kind.

OP, other useful sources of info are Notgoingtouni and Ratemyapprenticeship.

They don’t prepare people for uni either.

In what way?

They don't. But if you don't know what career you want to go into then it's a bit stupid to force kids into doing a Travel and Tourism Btec for example at 16. They are a perfectly valid qualification to do if you don't want to go to uni, or if you want to leave your options open. Or even if you want to do an apprenticeship. Some of which require A Levels.

@Gwenhwyfar Most students are still spoon-fed the majority of the A level syllabus. They are taught the exact way to answer the specific types of questions found on the different A level papers.
There is very little time for students to self study beyond specific revision (which mostly involves going over and over past papers).
There is no free thinking or exploration.

The first year of most degrees is spent revisiting the A level subject matter as students will have done different syllabus, different exam boards and different qualifications, so will all be in different places anyway.

A levels don't teach self study skills, or research skills. Many students still can't write a decent essay. From day 1 of the course, my DD hasn't even been given essay titles - she has to come up with her own question based on a given area of study, and then write the essay.

Thanks @Treeleaf11 for starting this thread and those sharing useful links.

My DD is in exactly the same position so am watching with interest.

Don’t just look for degrees apprenticeships - consider Level 3 ones too, particularly if it’s an area unrelated to his A Levels. It may feel like he’s repeating but if it’s job specific, and gets him into a job that leads on to a degree apprenticeship, it’s well worth it. And the other thing to consider is that apprenticeships can be extremely competitive, so manage expectations and don’t get downbeat if it takes a few applications.

What a silly comment. Uni is not for everyone and my DS is doing a degree apprenticeship. He hated the thought of full time Uni and with the debt, job market and too many graduates is far better off.

He’s too early in the year to apply for most engineering ones. So here are a few more links but he should be checking these site religiously from about mid September until late November. Most of the teams don’t want to hire until they know they will have the budget and that won’t be decided on until later in the year.

https://rollsroyce.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Apprentice

https://www.mbdacareers.co.uk/early-careers

http://jobs.siemens.com/careers?query=intern,%20graduate,%20apprentice&location=united%20kingdom&pid=563156116287470&domain=siemens.com&sort_by=relevance&triggerGoButton=false&ste_sid=000000000000b7abb88bb6b71db815efb368

My DS spent the summer of Year 12 clocking up as much work experience with companies that he could get it isn’t easy but most of it is online. Your DS will need to put himself out there and be prepared to spend a lot if time putting in applications and most won’t respond. Also keep an open mind if he is offered an alternative such as Level 3 or an Internship as lots of companies recruit internally for the degree apprenticeships. The best of luck.

Also, get AI savvy with applications. Alot of companies do an initial AI screen so if your cv or application doesn’t have all the key phrases or words, it’ll be rejected.

Actually, you are being argumentative, and you are derailing the OP's thread. I recommend you start your own thread if you want to debate the value of A levels.

@Treeleaf11 Apprenticeships are generally advertised in the same way as jobs, so set up an alert on Indeed and similar boards for the key word "apprenticeship" within an appropriate radius of your home postcode.

Also, applicants with some work experience are likely to be more attractive, so he should be applying for other jobs in the meantime.

Does he want something office based or practical?

https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship is more comprehensive than I expected, but nowhere is going to list everything - finding an apprenticeship can be harder than finding a uni place.

He needs to think about his preferences, aptitudes and what he might like to do for a career.
Does his 6th form have a careers service that can help him with those tests that suggest things that he might be suited to etc.
Or online research.

My ds decided he wanted to do a degree apprenticeship in business restructuring. They are level 7 and like gold dust. He applied to all of them but didnt get past the first stages.
He then stopped looking to concentrate on his alevels and after the exams contacted all the local insolvency practicioners (searched online to identify the businesses and people to contact) with his CV and a covering email.
He was very lucky to get an interview, and then an offer, and is now doing Accounting Technicial level 3, then 4, and will do his CPI in the future.

Accountancy, for example, has a structured programme with day release for college for AAT level 3 & 4, usually followed by professional qualification (the same as you'd do as a graduate). Lots of firms around will be taking on.
I don't know about other careers or professions, eg do HR or marketing (or ???) have similar setups?

Or if he wants a more practical hands on job then colleges that offer the day release courses might be able to help with advice.

Good luck to him.