Earn andlearn on an apprenticeship

Youcan startanapprenticeship whetheryou’re starting your career, want achange in career or you’re upskilling in your currentjob.

An apprenticeship is ajob with training andthe chance to gain qualifications.

As with anyjob,an apprentice gets paid,whiletakingpartinformalon-the-job training andstudy forrelevant qualificationslinkedto theirrole.

AnnieGuy,who is progressing hercareertomanagementlevel, said:“When IleftschoolIdidn’t want to go to university andget into debt.Iwanted tocontinuelearning whileearning awage, so an apprenticeship wasthe obviouschoice. I securedabusinessadministration apprenticeship at Dudley Metropolitan BoroughCouncil andIhaven’t looked back.IachievedmyLevel 2 and3inbusinessadministration, whichresultedinmy promotionand permanentjob as business administration assistant. I’mprogressing my career by undertakingateam leader apprenticeship.”

Apprenticeshiporuniversity?

At university,you’llspecialise in aspecificareaofacademicstudy Apprenticeshipshowever,are work- basedtrainingprogrammeswhere you’lllearn practicalskillsina working environmentand you can still achievea degree qualification Oneofthe main differencesbetweenanapprenticeshipand studying at university is you can“earn whileyou learn”,and youremployer will be fundingyourstudy,sono university debt.

With an apprenticeship,you earn moneywhile you studyyourpro- fessionatDudleyCollege.Youracademic studywill directly support thepractical experience you get in theworkplace,and you’ll gain a relevant qualification that will help you applyfor positionsinthe future, climbingthe career ladderand setting youapart from thosewithlittle experience.For some students, this is theperfect balanceoflearning work-relatedskills, studying and earningmoney.

Former apprentice,LukeHipkiss completedhis apprenticeship and waspromotedafter successfully achievinga HNCinengineering at Dudley Collegeand then graduated with a first-classhonours degree in mechanical engineeringat Birmingham City University.Luke said:“Optingfor an apprenticeship enabledmetoget auniversity degree,without having thedebt of university fees loomingovermy head.I wasalso able to buymy first home at theage of 24 andlookforward to abrightcareerfuture.”

Discoverapprenticeships

If youare currentlylooking for acareerchangeorjuststarting out, find outmoreand talk to our apprenticeship expertsat theopen dayonSaturday, March11,10am2pm.

Register foryourplace: www dudleycol.ac.uk