A PARENT’S guide to
Apprenticeships
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As a parent you want your child to get the best possible start in their career. There are many options available to young people after they leave school, and in this guide we outline information and benefits about apprenticeships as a key route into a successful career.
What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a real job with training which would allow your daughter or son to earn while they learn, whilst gaining nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships take between 1 and 4 years to complete and are now available up to a foundation degree level. The government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training. This means that young people will need to continue in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. This does not mean staying in school; young people have a choice about how they continue in education or training post-16, which could be through: • Full-time study at a school, college or with a training provider • Full-time work or volunteering, combined with part-time education or training • An apprenticeship
BENEFITS OF APPRENTICESHIPS There are many benefits to apprenticeships, including: • Increased future earning potential • Earning a salary • Learning at a pace suited to the individual • Training in the skills employers want with the support of a mentor • Excellent progression opportunities, • Paid holiday whether looking to study further or climb the ranks within the workplace;
SPOTLIGHT | JACOB EMERSON Jacob Emerson successfully completed his apprenticeship at Market Bistro and has now progressed to a full-time job at Michelin Star restaurant, Morston Hall. “I loved learning on the job and the assessor visiting my place of work made things much easier and more one-to-one. “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 has made my dreams come true!”
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How does my child apply for an apprenticeship?
Can they do an apprenticeship without a job?
Through our web site, cwa.ac.uk here, they will find the full range of apprenticeships on offer at the College of West Anglia. Once they have decided which apprenticeship they would like to do, then can apply online. Ideally, they should apply for an apprenticeship from October through to April, however applications are accepted throughout the year. Start dates may be subject to academic year.
No – apprentices must be employed from the start.
Do they have to have a job before applying? If not, who finds the job? No - applying for an apprenticeship allows training advisors at the college to meet your child in the first instance and give them feedback on their CV, interview techniques, etc. We would encourage any young person to approach local companies themselves; however we do have a range of employers who commit to apprenticeships each year and after a college interview, details could be passed on. Advertised apprenticeship vacancies can also be found on our web site. What happens after the application? They will receive a letter inviting them in for an interview with a training advisor and be assessed in maths and English. They will need to show the letter to the school who will give them permission to attend the interview. They should bring an up-todate CV with them and treat the interview formally, as if for a job, as we may be referring them to an employer.
Where does the learning take place? Some apprenticeships are delivered solely in the workplace, where assessors visit on a regular basis to deliver underpinning knowledge and assess practical skills. For others, attendance at college is necessary either on a day release or block release basis.
Do I have to pay? No. If your son or daughter is under the age of 19 then the course is fully funded. If they are 19 or over then an employer would have to contribute towards their course. This cost is dependent on the particular vocational area and the level of qualification. Will this affect my child benefit/other benefits? Yes. You will need to notify the benefits office through gov.uk What if my child isn‘t ready for an apprenticeship? They might want to consider a traineeship; this will allow your child to gain work experience for a period of time in preparation for an apprenticeship. A traineeship will not affect your child benefit. Alternatively, they may wish to consider a full time course; a full list of our courses can be found on our website, cwa.ac.uk
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A PARENt’S 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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