Any apprenticeship advice for 16yo?

[LargeHadron]

Hi. I hope someone can offer me some sanity.

My 16yo son is due to start 6th form next week but announced yesterday that he can't face it.

We talked about alternative education but it's a definite thumbs down from him. He wants to work so the only alternative is an apprenticeship but he hasn't a clue what he wants to do. Plus there's virtually nothing left as it's so late in the day.

Without going into detail, he's had a lot on his plate recently so his decision is possibly a result of that, but I'm concerned that he'll be putting himself in a situation that'll cause him further distress. I guess it'll be make or break ....

We've found 2 possible apprenticeships but they're not the sort of thing he'd have chosen if there were more options.

Is anyone else in a similar situation, or experienced something like it? I really don't know what to do.

Pick the biggest company if he can't decide on a specific qualification. Something where he'll be able to move around a little bit and find something that peaks his interest.

If you have a choice which as you have found you probably won't have much try to pick a large company. I've seen a lot of apprentices let go after their first year with small companies and then struggling to find somewhere to finish their apprenticeship.

He can work. He could just go and get any job as long as it's more than 20 hours a week and do any random college course (say one day a week).

What was he intending to study in the sixth form? Could he possibly be having a bit of a wobble in advance of getting his GCSE results on Thursday?

My ds decided 6th form wasn’t for him after the first half term and was able to find an apprenticeship that started in the January. You might have missed the boat for a September start in an apprenticeship but possibly your ds can ride out 6th form whilst he looks for one that’s a good fit. DS didn’t have a definite idea when he was looking as to what he wanted but we tried to focus on ones that would result in a respectable/transferable qualification at the end. They also vary in terms of pay and he was fortunate to get one that paid better than many of them.
Do be prepared though for the novelty and financial incentive to wear thin when the reality of the Monday to Friday 9 til 5 grind kicks in whilst his mates are in school holidays. It’s potentially a great option but it hasn’t been without it down moments!

He could sign up for a BTEC at college and then keep looking for a suitable apprenticeship. If he finds one by say Feb half term let him drop out to do it, otherwise he completes the year?

Thank you all for your responses, they've all been very helpful and have given me a bit of hope 😀

OP he'll be fine and find his way! Look for apprenticeships on the .gov website, get a CV sorted for him too. But also encourage him to try both - work like mad to secure an apprenticeship over the summer, and join 6th form in september if he doesn't find anything. He can still carry on applying for apprenticeships too.

To help him decide on a career its worthwhile sharing 2 things with him -

1. No-one chooses a 'career for life' anymore - so he isn't fixed in what he chooses now forever
2. People change their minds all the time careers-wise - there will be apprenticeships filled now that will be readvertised as other candidates find it's not for them

Feel free to PM me if you want further support :)

@Tiger2018 thank you 🙂