Northern Skills Group Apprenticeships

www.northernskills.co.uk

APPRENTICESHIPS

SO, WHAT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP? An apprenticeship is a great way to gain what all employers are looking for: qualifications and experience. They enable you to work alongside experienced staff in addition to your studying (usually one day a week) and earn a wage at the same time. With an apprenticeship under your belt, you’ll have achieved a recognised qualification and have the essential skills and experience employers want, meaning you’re more likely to sustain long lasting employment. Employers are always looking for apprentices too so you can apply at any time of the year!

SOUND GOOD? THOUGHT SO. Northern Skills Group works with a huge range of employers across the North East and Yorkshire region and is one of the largest providers in the area. Our Apprenticeships team and experienced Training Advisers work together to deliver apprenticeship training and assessments at all levels and have helped thousands of young people secure an apprenticeship in their chosen career, putting them on the fast track to success.

Benefits of Apprenticeships

Types of Apprenticeships

Earn a wage Gain a recognised qualification Receive hands-on training Learn job specific skills which can only be acquired in the workplace

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Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship - equivalent to five GCSE’s at grade C (grade 4 for new GCSE measures) Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship - equivalent to two A Levels Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship - equivalent to a university level qualification

SOME OF THE APPRENTICESHIPS WE HAVE ON OFFER: Business and Professional AAT Accountancy Bookkeeping Business Administration Leadership and Management Customer Service Contact Centre Operations

Catering and Hospitality

Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Barbering Beauty Therapy Hairdressing

Health and Care Health and Care Dental Nursing

Professional Cookery Cleaning Supervision

Housing

Childcare

IT and Computing

Children and Young People’s Workforce

Construction

Bricklaying Civil Engineering for Technicians Electrical Installation Construction Operations Plastering Painting and Decorating Plumbing and Heating Occupations Surveying Wood Occupations Building Maintenance Building Services Engineering Construction Management Glass Fenestration Fabrication of Glass Supporting Structures

Housing Practice

IT User IT Professional Social Media

Motor Vehicle

Motor Vehicle Fitting Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Motor Vehicle Diagnostics and Management

Sport and Activity Coaching Sport Technician Sports Development Activity Leadership Personal Training

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Plating/Fabrication Pipefitting Welding Engineering Design Environment/Waste Management Laboratory Science Technician Logistics Operations Mechanical Engineering Process Operations Science Manufacturing Technician Traffic Office Warehousing and Storage Waste Supervision Engineering Tool Making Engineering Woodworking, Pattern and Model Making Installation & Commissioning Performing Engineering Operations Performing Manufacturing Operations Technical Support Plus many more!

Speak with a member of our Apprenticeships team on 03453 40 40 40 or visit our website www.northernskills.co.uk

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HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?

HOW MUCH WILL I GET PAID?

An apprenticeship can last anywhere from 1-4 years depending on the type of qualification and the level you are working towards.

As an apprentice, you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. As of April 2018, this is set at an hourly rate of ÂŁ3.70, however many employers choose to pay more than this or increase the rate after the employee has been within the company for a certain amount of time.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I SPEND IN THE CLASSROOM? How much time you spend in the classroom will depend on the type of apprenticeship you are doing. You are typically employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week and learn both on the job and at one of Northern Skills Group’s training facilities. This usually equates to spending 4 days in work and 1 day in the classroom. You will be allocated a personal assessor who will visit your place of work and provide feedback and support during your programme.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED? Each apprenticeship programme is assessed slightly differently through different methods such as: Building a portfolio of evidence Practical / written assessments Exams

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WHAT IS MY HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT? As an employee you are entitled to a minimum of 20 days per holiday year, in addition to Bank Holidays. Your employer may offer more than this or increase your entitlement once you have been there longer.

WHAT TO DO NEXT The way you apply for an apprenticeship is slightly different than applying for a full-time course. There are many great apprenticeship programmes on offer however to start on a programme, there also needs to be a suitable employer who is happy to take you on as an apprentice or, a vacancy. Once a vacancy becomes available it’s all about putting together a great application and nailing your interview so you stand out from the competition!

SEARCH FOR A VACANCY

APPLY FOR A VACANCY

Visit www.northernskills.co.uk to search for current apprenticeship vacancies, we often have new vacancies become available so do remember to check our website!

If you find a suitable vacancy on our website, complete our online application form. This details your exam results, a personal statement and any attributes you think make you well suited to the job. See the application as a selling tool to show off your skills, professional manner and personal qualities.

ATTEND AN INTERVIEW If your application is successful, you will be invited for an interview to discuss your application in more detail. This will be with a member of the Northern Skills Group team, the employer directly or in some cases, both.

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CAN’T FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP OR VACANCY THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU? There are a number of options available to students who can’t initially find a suitable employer to start an apprenticeship with.

APPLY FOR A FULL-TIME VOCATIONAL COURSE Many school leavers initially apply to a full time BTEC qualification before they start on an apprenticeship. Once an employer becomes available, it is then possible to fast-track you onto an apprenticeship programme with Northern Skills Group midway through your course. This is a valuable option as it allows you to gain a basic understanding of the industry you will be working in and complete work as part of your technical certificate.

Visit www.mbro.ac.uk to apply for a full-time vocational course.

APPLY FOR A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP Our Apprenticeship Academy offers a range of short courses which provide a great stepping stone for those who would like to progress to an apprenticeship. They help you prepare for the working environment in your chosen industry, and develop your core English, maths and ICT skills. Our programmes usually involve a work placement, which gives you valuable experience for your CV, and in some cases, can lead directly into an apprenticeship.

Visit www.northernskills.co.uk to register your interest or speak with a member of our team on 03453 40 40 40.

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BETH SHOWS SHE’S NO LIGHTWEIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING AN APPRENTICESHIP Beth Cowardine won a place as an apprentice with Cobra Middlesbrough Ltd, a Road/Rail Terminal based in the old Middlesbrough Goods Yard. Beth and her two fellow colleagues, weigh all the lorries in and out of the North Road site and are loving the hands-on role!

Geoff Robinson, Operations Director at Cobra, said:

She said: “When I left school I did a few different things, but then I saw the traineeship course in logistics and thought it looked interesting.”

Beth is studying IT Level 2 and Supply Chain Level 2 at the Northern Skills Group Middlesbrough Campus, and says she loves it there.

“As part of the course, they arranged the work placement for me – and I really enjoyed it. My work includes waving wagons on and off the weighbridge, handling invoices, logging orders and handling other kinds of admin.”

“I’d 100% recommend other young people to go there – they treat you like an adult and help you all the way through.”

"Beth is like a breath of fresh air. She is full of enthusiasm and learning more skills every day. We look forward to her taking on more responsibilities in the future”.

Cobra liked Beth too, and took her on. She’s now starting an 18-month apprenticeship with the company and studies one day a week as part of it.

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WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU Apply for a vacancy or register your interest in an apprenticeship at www.northernskills.co.uk Have a chat with a member of our Apprenticeships team - 03453 40 40 40 Email us at: apprenticeships@northernskills.co.uk with any questions you have Join us on Facebook /northernskillsgroup or follow us on Twitter @northernskills_ for the latest job alerts

Northern Skills Group brings the expertise of Middlesbrough College and NECC Training together and works with over 2000 businesses across the North East and Yorkshire, supporting learners and businesses in more sectors at more skill levels than ever before.

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APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING