Degree apprenticeships with large group cohort/support

[busygirl8888]

HI, DS is currently in Year 12 studying Maths, Physics and Design Technology A'Levels and is considering university and apprenticeship options. He is potentially interested in an engineering apprenticeship but the social side of university really appeals to him and he says he doesn't want to be stuck at home for three years while all his pals go off to uni. We live quite rurally so do understand where he's coming from and also wouldn't want him to be lonely and isolated at home if not mixing with others his own age.

We've started to research apprenticeship providers and in many ways they look great: work experience, no debt etc but also think the social side is important. We realise that not all apprentices will be based at home (in fact unlikely to be many near where we live) but none of the companies really make it clear where apprentices who have to relocate will be living. It's quite a big deal to be moving to a new city aged 18 without the usual support of student accommodation/halls with others etc.

I imagine companies will put apprentices in touch with each other so hopefully they can share accommodation if necessary but even so, it would be good to know which companies tend to have a large-ish group/cohort of apprentices with support available to feel that they're not missing out on a social life in those formative years.

Any suggestions for engineering companies (or others) who might offer this sort of thing?

My nephew is just about to finish one with BAE (although not engineering). He did two years at home and the local base (some of that overlapped with the tail end of the pandemic so was a bit isolated I think), then has done a year in two different locations in the UK, flat shares with others in his cohort and is spending his final year abroad although I think there’s just one other person out there with him.

I’m not super close to it, but I don’t get the impression it’s much like student life as you basically have a job (although there’s time off for study and annual leave and expenses seem generous). I’m guessing there’s not the same leeway if you don’t engage properly, turn up pissed etc as the employer is making a huge investment in you. But theirs is a decent social aspect to it. But no debt, a salary, work-ready skills, independent living and international travel all sounds great to me.

He could move out?
Portsmouth offers accommodation for their apprentices

The larger the employer the more likely they are to have a cohort. But he won’t get the same social experience in any degree apprenticeship.

Id go to any apprenticeship events or open evenings at employers near you and ask the question of current apprentices. While also bearing in mind the data seems to be saying less apprentices are being taken on, and so the potential cohort experience might vary

But he won’t get the same social experience in any degree apprenticeship.

No, it isn’t a get stoned, dye your hair green and dabble in radical politics type experience. At least not at BAE Systems! But it depends what your son is looking for.

My nephew is not very academic or naturally studious, very money motivated and fairly conservative in outlook so it suits him well.

We have a large cohort of DAs where I work they have their own community. However it's not the same as the traditional uni scene as others have said. Many live at home but several moved to the job so have a rented room/ flat. We do not as an employer sort them out with accommodation etc that's on them. We offer them a job at a location and a salary. We pay expenses around going to uni but general day to day living is on them. It's quite a growing up moment for many when they have to do this.

Finding accomodation is the hardest part I think! We got NO help and just had to find private rental in a large city. My DC started early by researching who her cohort were (by linkedin, mainly) and then messaging and whatsapping them, and then getting a group together to research private rentals. Eventually a few of them found a great flat!

I think if he can find a scheme he likes then find the apprentices on LinkedIn and message them. They will be really happy to get these kinds of messages and to help out: they really have it drummed into them that they are representing the company with that sort of networking work.

And the social life is fine - in fact probably better - than most students, mainly because they have ££££ and all the apprentices are in the same life stage.

My DC and friends are doing these are different companies and there is so much free food and drink - one has a free cocktail trolley every Friday ffs. :)

There is a social life but drinks after work type not pissy lager and cheap food in a student union. My DS was never interested in the Uni life and enjoys the earning and learning. However we live near London and he commutes so lives at home so can enjoy his money. His degree apprenticeship is at a large tech company.

OP if your DS is interested in Engineering then Dyson is a good shout as they have their own Campus so probably more of a Uni feel.

It is worth bearing in mind that whilst finance and IT related degree level apprenticeships are more likely to be concentrated in or adjacent to major centres, engineering opportunities are more likely to be geographically dispersed; eg you could be working for BAE in Barrow; that would be true for MEng graduates too upon graduation but the degree apprenticeship route essentially means leading the life of a 22 year old at 18; to some that very much appeals, to others it does not.

Hi all, thanks very much for useful feedback. I think I might have given wrong impression that DS is wanting to max out on student experience/getting drunk every night etc which is definitely not the case but equally it's good to know there are opportunities to link up with other apprentices and Dyson is a good shout so will definitely look into that one.

DS finished a 4 year degree apprenticeship last summer. He lived with 3 other apprentices for the 4 years - once he knew he had the place, the company shared contact details of all new apprentices who had given consent. No complaints about the social life - apprentice association at his company and a wider one covering the area. Plus opportunities through sport as he plays football, climbs and runs. Also involved in running a youth group at the local church. I should add - a degree apprenticeship is very hard work! 4 days in work, 1 day at uni, all the coursework to complete. There were periods when his social life was non existent! He really recommends it as has a job, no debt, and is ahead of those taken on as grads.

DS is doing a degree apprenticeship with STFC, he's not doing engineering but they do have engineering apprenticeships I think. He loves it. He stays in a long term airbnb. He gets on really well with the other apprentices and they mix with the apprentices from other years but there's not a huge amount of socialising outside work. Certainly nothing like the drinking and partying I did when I was at uni.

@busygirl8888 an apprenticeship is just like starting a job, so unless they say otherwise they're unlikely to give support in arranging accommodation. However, larger employers with a significantly sized intake will create opportunities for them to meet, train and socialise together, just like companies with large graduate intakes. If so, they are likely to mention this on the apprenticeship pages of their websites.

All of the young peeps that I know of getting apprenticeships are living at home, even those in relatively rural locations - in fact it seems that many apprentice employers favour local candidates. I know my own employer (a central London uni) prioritises apprenticeship applicants from its local borough.

The obvious exception would be armed forces apprenticeships.

@busygirl8888 The world and his wife want Dyson - ultra competitive. In rural areas, it’s so much more difficult to commute and the cost of living away from home is, of course, expensive. Work is work, uni is uni. They are different. A decent MEng and a good cv will still get a grad work. They choose at 22, not 18. Some MEng grads won’t go into engineering at all. There’s other careers out there. Apprenticeships tend to expect dc to not move sideways because the degree takes so long.