Croydon College

What is an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship offers a mixture of on and off the job training that gives you the skills needed to get ahead in your chose career. Apprenticeships range from Business Administration and Customer Service to Heating and Ventilation and Health and Social Care.

What are they like?

Doing an Apprenticeship is just like having a real job. You will find yourself working alongside experienced members of staff to learn the exact skills needed for your chosen career, whether it is hairdressing, cooking or engineering.

With an Apprenticeship you can expect to improve or learn Key and Functional skills and obtain a competencies qualification as well as a technical knowledge qualification showing you have an understanding of the relevant industry and its market.

Why should I do one?

There are lots of great reasons to do an Apprenticeship:

• Earn while you learn
• Paid holidays and other benefits (same as other employees)
• Gain nationally recognised qualifications
• Aquire skills and training needed to do the job.

What levels are there?

There are three levels of Apprenticeships:

Intermediate Level Apprenticeship

This type of Apprenticeship will have you working towards work-based qualifications such as an NVQ Level 2, Key Skills and perhaps a learning-based qualification such as a BTEC. The qualifications you receive are equivalent to five GCSEs at grades A-C.

Advanced Level Apprenticeship

You can expect to gain a work-based qualification such as an NVQ Level 3 as well as Key Skills. In most cases you'll work towards a learning-based qualification such as a BTEC. These qualifications are equivalent to two A-levels.

Higher Apprenticeship

You'll work towards work-based qualifications such as an NVQ Level 4 and perhaps a learning-based qualification such as a foundation degree.