Apprenticeships support group

[SingingAvocado]

Following on from a thread started by @Citygirlrurallife and with encouragement from @Dontlookup1 perhaps there is an appetite for an apprenticeship thread? To repeat what I said on the original thread, 'my DD (Y12) wants to go for an apprenticeship too so I'm grateful to hear of others pursuing the same route. I've signed up to apprentice job alerts on LinkedIn and we have a spreadsheet to note down anything interesting and when it was advertised this year in the hope they follow a similar pattern next year. She'd like a degree apprenticeship but would be willing to do a level 4 if it is a foot in the door. She's also wanting something creative, which are a lot more rare (her favourite is the Christie's programme). We are under no illusions that it is going to be difficult. Would an apprenticeship thread be useful (plenty of uni ones here)? A central gateway would be great. We've done all the legwork ourselves …'
All welcome!

Ds is interested in a business apprenticeship, currently year 12, doing A Levels in business, politics and Drama. Does anyone know If he were to do a level 4 apprenticeship (eg just been looking at the Unilever one), can they usually progress to the next level with that employer?

My DS started an Accountancy apprenticeship in Sept. He's loving it and we can really see how much more confident he's become since he started. He's enjoying working and being given real responsibility alongside studying, and the money is a big plus! It is a lot of work - coming up to exams he is studying in the evenings after being in the office all day. He's surprised by how much less work his friends who have gone to uni seem to have in comparison!

The application process had several stages and was very time consuming and he did do all the virtual work experience opportunities he could to have something to talk about in applications/ interviews.

Overall he's really pleased he went for the apprenticeship. It does have challenges but he's enjoying it, getting really valuable experience and being paid a good salary.

Sorry, I don't know about Unilever. All I know is that Christie's used to have this on their website: 'All those who join on an apprentice contract will be offered a level 2 or level 3 apprenticeship. Degree apprenticeships will be offered on a case-by-case basis for those who have successfully completed their first apprenticeship.' It doesn't seem to be on the website any longer but hoping it is still the case (we were away for their open day during half term and need to watch the video they sent afterwards which might have up-to-date info). There are people on LinkedIn from the Harrods retail apprenticeship programme who seem to then do further training with them too (HR, Buyer etc.).

We went to a university open day at the weekend. Ds came out and said 'I hate to say it but you were right'! After reluctantly sitting on the train at 8am.
We spoke to a lovely women in the apprenticeships department (who just by chance specialises in engineering). She gave advice about how the course worked. The best advice was on finding apprenticeships, said that they have a 'jobs' fair in December every year that about 60 companies attend which is a must. She also said some of the cohort every year get an apprenticeship by approaching companies so thats another option. Also as well as ucas and government website they encourage employers to advertise directly through their website. She did acknowledge that they are just (if not more) competitive as the degree and have the same grade offer.
We also went to the engineering talk this helped ds think more about what area of engineering (already had a good idea but this sort of reinforced that) he wants to specialise early, which wouldn't be my first choice however its his informed choice and could verbalise why. It also seems to have lit a spark and realised apprenticeship or university will be good (in different ways) and acknowledged he'd got something to aim for (Ucas points wise) and because he could see an end result (after talking to some masters students who've secured jobs where he'd like to work).
All in all a useful morning out. Glad I pushed through all the whats the point/its too early because now he may put a bit of effort into his revision for mocks in April.

Are there any apprentices in business related routes?

Yes there’ll be a few.
Unilever offers business
Ive seen some for marketing, banking (Santander- but there’ll be others)
And accounting / marketing

UCAS.com worth a look for degree apprenticeships

can I join you too? What a useful thread. DS also in year 12 and keen to do a DA in property /surveying. I can really see the appeal and just want to support him as best I can. School seem v focussed on UCAS.

You are very welcome to join us. DD is considering the property DA as one of her options too. Although she does say that a degree in Real Estate, with a Chartered Surveying qualification, does take you down quite a narrow path. I'm sure you've done your research but the places we've found offering DAs are:
Carter Jonas
CBRE (need maths ideally)
Bidwells
Barratt Redrow
Allsop
British Land
Avison Young
Cushman & Wakefield
Fisher German
Montagu Evans
and Savills offers a level 4/5

Thank you for the welcome, and the list - we've got a very similar one. 😀 I did wonder about the house builders too. Agree about a narrow path, but DS is (at the moment), v focussed on that outcome. He's got some work experience coming up and going to ask them about real estate vs other degrees and their employment preferences. Looking at the employment market + the increasing popularity of DA, I think it's going to be tough going to secure one. So uni def a back up plan. I think he should look at level 4 & 5 too as get your foot in the door and get going. He is very keen on being in employment.

The higher education sector is going to be under even more pressure than it is. Demographics falling, reduced demand / aspiration to attend, pressure on contact hours and employment support + all the financial backdrop they have. I hadn't realised until this week that all companies pay an apprenticeship levy of 0.5% - that really does incentivise them!

Hi all, this thread been quiet for a while but keen to share experiences. DC’s school v uni focused, but he is keen to look at finance apprenticeships/ school leaver programmes. Starting to make a list. If they have A levels presumably they could apply for level 3+? School leaver programmes are different to apprenticeships?

Looks like most programmes open August onwards for applications. Read something about starting to practice reasoning tests…

Thanks for waking the thread up. My ds will be applying for apprenticeships and Uni, so lots to do! He’s looking for a business apprenticeship, researching like crazy but it feels overwhelming. Yes with A levels it’s level 4 upwards I think, but we never seem to spot any that are in between 3 or 6/7!

Where are you researching? DC will apply for uni too. School seem to assume everyone wants to go to uni

It does feel like a bit of a waiting game at the moment and then autumn term comes dc will be expected to complete ucas forms, look and apply for apprenticeships, complete mocks, and continue to study (and part time job). Thats all before any social life.
We had a talk from school 2 weeks ago basically saying apprenticeships are harder to get than uni and have to be plan A (they quotedlast years amazon apprenticeship figuresand said you were more likely to get into Oxford). They did say one of the issues is dc have to be proactive and its not like the university application process where there are set timeliness and a centralised system.
Our plan is to get a broad outline of cv done over summer so its ready to adapt to the different roles and then regular Google search to see whats coming out when. Our local university does an open evening just for apprenticeships in the autumn term so dc has signed up for alerts. School have also offered reading cv service and mock interviews.
Dc is wanting a mechanical/automative engineering degree apprenticeship but is in the process of also completing his ucas form for an engineering degree as back up.

I assume work experience is highly valued for these programmes? DC has p/t job but no work experience so wondering if still worth trying to pick something up this summer or at least online programmes

PT work will count. Just tailor it for the apprenticeship.

virtual work experience can count. Springpod has a few.

Yes they can apply for level 3 apprenticeship from A levels.

I’ve asked this before on another thread, but DD is big into Science. Her first thought is dentistry, or Pharmacology, she’s only just finished year 10. Any apprentice routes for her?

Ucas site actually has a lot of apprenticeship degrees on, there was also a website they gave them at school, I will get ds to give me the link later and I will share it. We’ve also looked on company websites. The hardest thing is narrowing down which to apply for, he knows the competition is fierce though. To be fair he would also be happy doing a four year business degree at Uni with a year in industry. But obviously the debt from Uni is a big concern.

Hard disagree on the helicopter parenting! DS has huge passion for programming but never would have got organised to sort out CV, cover letters, interviews etc without a lot of support - actually I wrote most of them for him! It was hugely competitive but he's now in his second year and has loved every moment. I would have to talk him into doing work experience etc when he was at school and now he's mentoring work experience students. It's been brilliant for him.

I'd recommend getting involved in any relevant school clubs, doing some relevant volunteering - even at school clubs for younger kids, any examples of any kinds of leadership roles in sports clubs (but examples of team work more important than leadership at this age). Any kind of part time job for soft skills, a relevant EPQ, any of your own projects that are relevant, decent grade predictions, being aware of developments in your area, reading up on the values of the companies you're interested in and prepping ideas for typical interview questions and practising them with someone else.

DS used the gov site, ucas, glassdoor and amazingapprenticeships to find his and he applied to about 15. He found that he didn't get anywhere applying for level 4's though for some reason even though he got to the first round of pretty much every degree apprenticeship he applied for.

Thanks for this. DC has a p/ t job, volunteering - needs some relevant activities. A level subjects are relevant. My DC not v organized so will need some support.