WANT to apply for an apprenticeship? This is the week to do it.
More than 30,000 earn-as-you- learn jobs are on offer for National Apprenticeship Week.
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Roles are suitable for trainees aged 16 to 70 — and the schemes have never been more popular.
A new study from BAE Systems shows there has been a ten per cent jump in the number of people considering an apprenticeship in the last year alone.
And it’s not just big firms that offer apprenticeships.
We highlight the best schemes, from companies big and small . . .
Life at sea
THE Royal Navy is one of the UK’s largest apprenticeship providers, with 2,600 recruits a year.
Trainees are accepted from ages 16 to 39.
Charlie-Ann Neave, 20, from Herefordshire, is a Leading Engineering Technician apprentice.
She said: “I knew I didn’t want to go to university so I started to research apprenticeships at school.
“I think it’s great people are realising how beneficial traineeships are – especially for hands-on jobs.
“If you can get the same qualification as attending university in a similar time frame, you’d be crazy not to.”
Call 0345 607 5555 for more information.
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Big firms
RAISE your glass to a role with pub giant Greene King.
There are 450 vacancies, including chef and management training. Visit jobs.greeneking.co.uk/apprenticeships.
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At Specsavers there are 270 places in retail, support offices and manufacturing. More details at join.specsavers.com/uk.
Openreach is taking on 3,000 apprentices, including engineers. Search openreach.com/careers.
Accountancy network Azets is looking for 1,000 new apprentices. To apply, go to azets.co.uk/careers.
Amazon has 1,500 apprentice roles, including 40 degree-level schemes. Search at amazon.jobs/en.
Bright Horizons needs 300 childcare apprentices. See jobs. brighthorizons.co.uk/apprenticeships.
Defence firm BAE Systems has 930 roles at baesystems.com/earlycareers.
And Go Ahead has 1,100 bus driver apprenticeships. For more details see go-ahead.com/our-people/apprenticeships.
Small firms
HEART Of England Forest has two roles for forestry apprentices. Find out more at heartofenglandforest.org/jobs-and-careers.
Keepmoat Homes needs two trainee bricklayers. Email [email protected].
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Fitness firm Bio-Synergy is seeking one customer service and two digital marketing apprentices. Email makeithappen@bio-synergy. co.uk.
Ventilation firm Nuaire needs six engineering apprentices. See nuaire.co.uk/careers.
Uber Boat By Thames Clippers is after an electrical engineer apprentice. See careers.aegeurope.com/brands/thames-clippers.
How to get to the top
STARTING at the bottom as an apprentice can be a brilliant way to get to the top.
Beth Whittaker chief HR officer of environmental services firm Veolia UK and Ireland, began as an apprentice.
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Here she shares her tips on climbing the career ladder.
- Invest in yourself: No one will care for your career and personal development as much as you – take responsibility and great care of both.
- Be inquisitive: This was my manager’s advice on my first day as an apprentice. She was spot on.
- Identify who you want to be: Take a look around you at the traits and qualities that you admire in others – and the ones you don’t – and challenge yourself about the person you want to be. Try to find role models and don’t be afraid to ask them to be your mentor.
- Take your time: Your working life is hopefully a long and successful one, so don’t always rush to the next thing but enjoy the journey. That way you’ll also have some amazing experiences and meet some great people along the way.
- Learn, learn, learn: Treat everything as a learning experience and an opportunity to practise existing skills and develop new ones. More than 22 years on, that’s still my approach. Veolia has 55 apprenticeship vacancies in engineering, IT and business administration. See veolia.co.uk.
Jobspot
VERTU Motors has 120 vacancies for customer service apprentices.
Find out more at vertucareers.com.
Another route to try
NOT quite ready to apply for an apprenticeship?
Kick off your career on the Kickstart scheme.
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More than 130,000 unemployed young people have completed the Government’s new work readiness programme, with tens of thousands progressing straight into an apprenticeship.
The training placements are open to 16- to 24-year- olds who are currently claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Minister for Employment Mims Davies said: “I’ve heard from committed employers up and down the country about the brilliant young people they’re taking on into apprenticeships, after they found employment through our Kickstart scheme.”
Builders merchant Travis Perkins has hired 70 new apprentices after finding candidates on the Kickstart scheme.
They are managed by Tony Dawson, who says: “Kickstart has been a fantastic opportunity for us to identify new talent and bring them into our existing apprenticeship programme.”
You can find out more about the scheme at jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/government-services/kickstart-scheme.
Insider training might be best way forward
ALREADY in a job?
Ask your employer about internal apprenticeship opportunities.
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Facilities giant Mitie has more than 1,000 apprentices in training at any one time – and many are existing staff.
Operations manager Elvedin Zdralovic began as a security officer after fleeing Bosnia in the early 1990s.
He took a Level 3 apprenticeship in Principle of Leadership and has since been promoted three times.
Elvedin, from Stockport, said: “I would encourage anyone to do an apprenticeship, especially if they’ve got little education.”
Mitie HR director Jasmine Hudson added: “They are a great way to gain the skills needed to kickstart or accelerate your career.”
Apply at careers.mitie.com.
Fancy a debt-free degree?
DO a degree for free with BP.
The energy firm is offering Higher Level 4 apprenticeships, equivalent to a foundation degree, and Degree Level 6 apprenticeships – a full bachelor’s degree.
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The placements, from two to four years, are on offer across software development, HR, trading and shipping, finance, and applied sciences lab technician roles.
You will need a minimum of five GCSEs grade A to C or 9 to 4, including English and maths.
Khadija Khan, 21, a software developer apprentice from Bedfordshire, said: “Apprenticeships provide you with a full qualification but you’ll be debt-free.”
You must apply by February 28, at bp.com/en/global/corporate/careers/students-and-graduates/ locations/united-kingdom/apprenticeships.html.
Jobspot
SHOP for a new career at Marks & Spencer, which is offering 50 places on its Retail Management School Leaver Programme gaining a Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
Apply at jobs.marksandspencer.com/early-careers.
