yoUR guide to
Apprenticeships
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What is an apprenticeship? Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. As an employee, you can earn as you learn and gain practical skills in the workplace. At college, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications. More and more apprenticeships are being run in the workplace, which means college staff visit learners to observe practical work and set assignments. All apprenticeships are for people aged 16 and above. There may be different entry requirements for apprenticeships depending on the occupational sector. You need to be living in England and not taking part in fulltime education.
Competition for places with employers can be fierce, so you will need to show commitment and awareness of responsibilities to both yourself and the company who employ you. Apprentices also need to be happy to work as both part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.
WHAT & HOW DO I LEARN? An apprenticeship usually consists of a number of separate qualifications including a knowledge based one (theory), a vocational one (practical skills) and functional skills in English and maths (and in some cases ICT). Please see each individual course leaflet on our website for specific details on the framework for each subject.
Most of your time is spent in the workplace, sometimes with additional training taking place at college, either on a day or block release basis, however more and more of our courses are delivered solely in the workplace so you may not need to go to college unless you have to do your functional skills. If you achieve A*-C in your GCSE’s you may not have to do functional skills at all.
SPOTLIGHT | JACOB EMERSON Jacob Emerson successfully completed his apprenticeship at Market Bistro, a familyrun restaurant in King‘s Lynn, featured in the prestigious Michelin Guide. He has now progressed to a full-time job at Michelin Star restaurant, Morston Hall. Jacob, pictured left, said: “I loved learning on the job and the assessor visiting my place of work made things much easier and more one-to-one.” He added: “I have always enjoyed cooking and I cook quite a lot at home. My dream was always to become a professional chef with the ultimate goal of working in a Michelin Star restaurant. Completing my apprenticeship with CWA and Market Bistro has made my dreams come true!”
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Do I have to pay to be an apprentice? Do I get paid? There are currently no fees payable for young people on apprenticeship programmes. Fees may be payable by your employer if you are age 19 or older when you start. All apprentices must receive a wage of at least ÂŁ2.73* per hour (the legal minimum wage). However, as skills develop, many employers tend to increase wages. Most employers pay more than the legal minimum. What do I get from college? Our job is to ensure that your training fits your personal requirements, offers the skills needed for the job and satisfies national standards. We also offer personal and learning support, including promotion of equality and diversity. You can also access additional support but will need to be assessed as to what support you need. As an apprentice you also have access to all the college facilities and will receive a student ID card. When you start your apprenticeship you will be supported by a training advisor who will compile your learning plan, work with your employer and review your progress through the programme. What levels are available? We offer intermediate level apprenticeships (level 2), advanced level apprenticeships (level 3) in a variety of subjects. We also have higher level (level 4) apprenticeships in business and professional administration, management and health & social & care. How long does an apprenticeship last? Our apprenticeships range from 1-4 years depending on the level and subject. When can I start an apprenticeship? Engineering, construction, electrotechnical and hairdressing apprenticeships normally start in line with the academic year. All other programmes start at any time. The
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earliest start for a school leaver is after the last Friday of June in the year they leave school. How can I get to college? Buses are operated by the local county council. Enquiries can be made to student services on 01553 761144. How can I apply for an apprenticeship? At our website, cwa.ac.uk - simply find the apprenticeship you are interested in and complete the application form. What happens after I have applied? You will receive a letter inviting you in for an interview with a training advisor and a maths and English assessment. You will need to show the letter to the school who will give you permission to attend the interview. You should bring an up-to-date CV with you and treat the interview like a formal interview for a job, because we may be referring you to employers so you need to make a good impression. Do I find a job myself? We would encourage you to approach local companies yourself; however we do have a range of employers who commit to supporting apprentices each year and after suitable interview with the training advisor details could be passed on. Apprenticeship vacancies can be found at cwa.ac.uk. Can I be an apprentice without a job? No – apprentices must be employed from the start for a minimum of 30 hours each week and a maximum of 40 for anyone under the age of 18. What if I‘m not ready? You might want to consider a traineeship; this will allow you to gain work experience for a period of time in preparation for an apprenticeship. Or you may wish to consider a full time course at our website, cwa.ac.uk
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YOUR guide to
Apprenticeships
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT US ONLINE AT CWA.AC.UK OR CALL OUR APPRENTICESHIP TEAM ON 01553 815280 *The information contained in this leaflet is correct as far as can be ascertained at the time of printing but is subject to change
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