Level 3 Engineering apprenticeships

[Anon751117000]

My son is 18. He left school part way through his A levels last year as he decided he did not want to continue and was really keen to do an engineering apprenticeship instead. He got really good GCSE grades.
Last year he applied for several and registered with the main training providers. He got through to the final stage of one but just missed out sadly. He then reapplied this year but was keen to be quite selective. He got through to the final 12 of an apprenticeship from over 2000 applicants but sadly did not get chosen (we have a lot of work to do on his interview prep but thats another story).

Looking for other's experiences or any hints/tips? He has found the training providers to be not particularly great - after having tests and interviews he just never hears from them again. They just never got back to him last year about any of their apprenticeships they kept advertising. If he emailed them he would just get the same stock answer back.

What have other's experiences been? Has it taken lots and lots of applications/knock backs? I know its highly competitive and he is keen to just keep trying.

Does it really get much harder the older they get? He's now worried that he could potentially be 19 when the next round of applications open again.

Luckily he currently has a full time job in a bar to cover him while he continues to apply.

IME, Engineering apprenticeships do tend to be highly competitive. I think my DS applied for 60 or so. He found being older (he was 19 when he finally got one, days from turning 20 when he started) more of a help than a hinderance.

I've found training providers know that these are popular and while there are good ones, most of them seem to struggle with the admin and communication side.

The tips that my DS and some of those he's known have found helpful is:
-- expanding to look at Level 2 as well - some companies start at lower levels and build up if successful
-- expand which types of engineering if not yet - marine engineering is less popular as it requires weeks off-shore.
-- it's not uncommon for these apprenticeships to require a driver's license if not at the start, then within the first year. I've heard additional driving training can be looked well on.

What type of engineer? Location?

Sorry should have said its Mechanical engineering (manufacturing) mainly and north east england

Food and beverage companies would be a good place to look.

@TiredShadows this is so helpful! He has branched out a little bit with the type of engineering. For example he got through to the final round for rail maintenance engineering recently. It is good to hear that its normal to take quite a few attempts. I'm actually hoping that he will just reapply for the rail one next year as he now has all the insight into the assessment day and interview on his side.
Thankfully he has a full driving licence.