麻豆传媒

Doing an apprenticeship isn鈥檛 quite like the Apprentice you see on TV! You won鈥檛 be called into the boardroom, grilled by Lord Sugar, and told 鈥測ou鈥檙e fired!鈥�

So, what鈥檚 it really like to be an apprentice and why should you consider it?

During an apprenticeship, you鈥檙e employed to do a job while studying towards a qualification, making it a great alternative to studying A Levels or taking a full time course at college. Lots of ambitious young people choose to take the apprenticeship route at Coleg Gwent and here鈥檚 why…

1. Get a recognised qualification

The great thing about an apprenticeship is that it鈥檚 on-the-job training, so you won鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e still in school and stuck in a classroom. Instead, you鈥檒l gain real experience in the world of work, and you鈥檒l still come out of it with a valuable qualification that means something to employers! You鈥檒l learn all the practical skills and knowledge that鈥檚 relevant to your chosen career, while working towards competencies to achieve your qualification. You can even work towards higher level qualifications like HNDs, HNCs and Foundation Degrees.

2. Become more employable

The skills you learn during an apprenticeship are much more than just the hands-on skills and knowledge you need to master for your role. Alongside these key skills, you鈥檒l also learn the subtle art of communication, how to deal with difficult situations, how to manage your time and prioritise tasks, and how to work well as part of a team. These are skills you simply can鈥檛 learn in the classroom, but they鈥檙e vital in working life and will shine on your CV and make you more employable.

3. Be paid to learn

Apprenticeships are funded by employers and the government, so it鈥檚 a form of study that鈥檚 completely free for learners. This means you鈥檒l have no student loans or tuition fees, so it won鈥檛 cost you a bean. But it鈥檚 not just work experience or an unpaid internship, it鈥檚 actual paid work and you鈥檒l earn a real wage and receive a pay cheque every month for doing it! Apprentices earn a minimum wage based on their age, with some employers offering more than the national minimum wage, as well as other benefits like paid annual leave.

4. Climb the career ladder

By choosing the apprenticeship route, you鈥檒l be learning on-the-job and getting a head start in your career. You鈥檒l be stepping on the career ladder years before university graduates, so you can start earning and progressing faster. With all that experience under your belt, you鈥檒l become an expert in your trade and there will be opportunities for you to climb the career ladder and progress quickly. A lot of companies also train apprentices as their future workforce, creating roles for you once you鈥檝e completed your qualification!

5. Discover a variety of careers

We have apprentices working in all sorts of industries at Coleg Gwent. Did you know you could get an apprenticeship in hospitality and catering? It鈥檚 not just an option for the building trades, as apprenticeships are actually available across many sectors that you might not have realised before. There are a range of subjects you can explore, from bricklaying to computing, and hospitality to healthcare – so it鈥檚 a fantastic route into a wide range of careers. Our apprentices are working with an exciting mix of employers across different industries, from Stately Albion and BAE Systems, to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and 2 Sisters Food Group.

Here鈥檚 what our apprentices say

With all these fantastic reasons to choose an apprenticeship, let鈥檚 hear what our apprentices at Coleg Gwent have to say…

鈥淚鈥檇 highly recommend an apprenticeship for someone who鈥檚 just come out of school, in their teens, or at the start of their twenties. You can kickstart a new career and then progress from there.鈥�

Jaden Richards, Diploma Level 2 NVQ Fabrication and Welding

鈥淢y youngest son is in college now doing his second year and he was a bit shocked that I was going to college too. I said, you鈥檙e never too old to learn and it just goes to prove, put your mind to it and you can do anything!鈥�

Paula Flook, Diploma Level 2 NVQ Professional Cookery

鈥淚 chose an apprenticeship because it鈥檚 a more hands on experience and I find it鈥檚 easier to learn when you鈥檙e doing what they鈥檙e trying to teach you about.鈥�

Jade Parry, Diploma Level 3 NVQ Ext Engineering Maintenance (Electrical) EAL

鈥淭here are so many benefits 鈥� I鈥檝e been on many courses, gained lots of industry experience and met lots of professionals who are experts in their area. It鈥檚 something that I just couldn鈥檛 get in any other route – I鈥檝e gained four years of industry experience and can apply what I learn in the classroom on site.鈥�

Tom Burgess, Diploma Level 3 NVQ in Engineering Technologies

If you think an apprenticeship could be the right route for you and want to find out more, get in touch with us today to explore your options as an apprentice at Coleg Gwent.