Many school-leavers say they'd much rather be an apprentice and 'learn while they earn' instead of going straight into full-time learning at college or university.
But, given the amount of competition for quality apprenticeships at all levels, it's not always easy to find the right placement.
We look at what apprentices can do to improve their chances of being taken on - and how training providers and employers can support them in achieving their goal.
Apprenticeships, at all levels, continue to be a sought-after route into so many occupations in so many industries.
According to the most recent government figures available (covering the 2024/25 academic year August 2024 to January 2025) apprenticeship starts in England stood at 202,520, 1.0% up on the same period of 2023/24. And, of these starts, 56,470, some 27.9%, were by apprentices aged under 19.
To grow the UK economy and plug serious skills gaps, the UK government has pledged to make apprenticeship programmes even more accessible to 16- to 18-year-olds, creating better training opportunities and tackling youth unemployment. To this end, it launched its first seven foundation apprenticeships last month, with the focus very much on sectors where demand for skilled workers is high, such as health and social care, IT, engineering and building services.
Against this background of skills shortages, you might think finding an apprenticeship would be straightforward for young school-leavers. But it's not always that easy. To find the right programme it helps to know where to look and who to ask.
Seeking advice
There are people who know exactly what job they want, right from childhood. Most of us, though, have only a vague idea - or no clue at all - about what to do next when we leave school.
Good careers guidance while at school is so important as it can inform what subjects students study at GCSE and A-level. And, offering school age teenagers a short placement with local employers gives them an early taste of working life.
Finding an apprenticeship
Year 11 students can start looking for an apprenticeship even before they've left school, but they must have turned 16 by the end of the summer holidays which is when most apprenticeships start. Looking for an apprenticeship should be treated in much the same way as trying to find a job. Apprentices are considered employees and have the same legal rights to pay and conditions as staff in employment.
The most obvious place to begin is the government's own national apprenticeship website where vacancies are listed by location and occupation type/industry sector.
Also, employer websites and their social media feeds can offer a heads up on who runs apprentice training schemes and might have an opening.
Larger businesses often team up with local colleges to address specific skills shortages. Topps Tiles, for instance, is partnering with two further education colleges, Leeds College of Building and South & City College Birmingham, to try and boost the numbers of qualified tilers in the UK. And the household name business is also transferring 50% of its apprenticeship levy funds to support small tiling companies who'd like to take on an apprentice.
Business and further education are also collaborating to develop exciting new sustainable green apprenticeship programmes. One such example is heating business Vaillant who recently worked with Derby College Group (DCG) to create the UK's first Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship (LCHTA).
Thinking outside the box
As apprentice places are quite hard to secure, it might be worth school-leavers applying to FE college to enrol on a full-time course first. Level 2 courses in areas such as health and social care and the building trades provide a solid basic grounding and good colleges will have well-established links with local employers. Short placements done as part of a college course can often lead to casual paid part-time work then on to an apprenticeship.
There's nothing to stop prospective apprentices approaching employers directly to ask if there are any training opportunities and handing them/emailing their CVs. This shows initiative - something all employers appreciate. Similarly, parents, guardians and other family members can play a part by asking about any opportunities via their own social and workplace networks. You'll never know if you don't ask!
While they're looking, potential apprentices can also strengthen their resumes by doing some unpaid voluntary work, gaining useful experience for future employment.
How Onefile can help
As the leading learner management system, Onefile is bursting with handy tips and advice on all things apprenticeships. Apprentices who use our Eportfolio benefit from the best levels of remote support, ensuring that they, their tutors and their employers are always up to speed.
.jpg?width=369&height=160&name=soc-ci-ukas-h-iso-9001-isoiec-27001-rgb-ezgif.com-small(3).jpg)
