Apprenticeships for Newham residents

As an apprentice, you can earn while you learn, and gain recognised qualifications as you work.

1. Key facts about apprenticeships
2. Five key benefits for you
3. How can I become an apprentice?
4. What do I do next?

Key facts about apprenticeships

• Anyone aged 16 and over can become an apprentice. Whether you have just left school, have been working for years or want to start a new career.
• As an apprentice, you will earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills.
• You will also receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications.
• Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete, depending on the level of training and what industry you are working in. Some organisations will require candidates to complete a pre- apprenticeship programme.
• Pre-apprenticeship courses are available for those who are not yet ready to complete a full programme. This can run from up to six months or longer depending on your individual need and may not offer a qualification.
• Organisations of all sizes offer apprenticeships – from large multi-nationals to medium and small sized enterprises.
• The government has announced that over the next four years, 125,000 more apprenticeship places will be available with organisations across the UK.

Five key benefits for you:

• earn a salary as you train
• receive paid holidays
• receive on the job and college training
• gain national qualifications
• learn job-specific skills from people working in the industry.

How can I become an apprentice?
If you feel you are ready to consider becoming an apprentice, you can apply for vacancies online on the National Apprenticeships Service website. You can search, view and then apply for opportunities. Some employers and providers (colleges) will allow for applications to be sent directly to them.

In all cases, the vacancy will have entry requirements and a selection process that you will need to go through.

If you are not yet ready to start applying for an apprenticeship and just require information and guidance at this stage, you can get speak to a careers adviser either face to face or on the phone.

What do I do next?

1. Register for apprenticeship information from Newham Workplace
Newham Workplace maintains a database of Newham residents who are interested in finding out about apprenticeship opportunities. Register your interest in apprenticeship information from Newham Workplace using this link.

2. Register with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS)
NAS is responsible for all apprenticeship programmes delivered across the country. You can search for current opportunities or register your details for future vacancies. The link is here

3. Look at our Useful Links for Apprenticeship Opportunities
This guide has some key apprenticeship opportunities with named employers, listed by their sector. It is not an exhaustive list, but an example of some of the main apprenticeship opportunities available. The link to this guide is here

4. Seek Careers Advice
If you are not sure what career path you want to pursue, why not discuss it with a Careers Adviser? The National Careers Service offers a free service for everyone seeking advice and support on career, job and learning opportunities - whatever your age. Resources available on this website also include a CV builder, a skills health check and the opportunity to open a Lifelong Learning Account. The link to the National Careers Service is here

Aged 14-19?

If you are aged 14-19, there are some additional resources available for you:

• Careers Education - If you are still in school or college, you will have access to careers advice in your school. Ask one of your tutors/lecturers about how you can access this service.
• UCAS Progress - This is the online prospectus for 14-19 year olds. You can search for course or training opportunities by postcode, subject or provider. You can also save your favourite courses so you can come back to them at any time. Access to UCAS Progress is here
• Not going to university - If you’ve decided not to go to university, then this website will give you the advice, inspiration and tools to make an informed decision on other successful routes to your chosen career. The link is here
• Labour Market Information - If you are a Young Person living or studying in Newham, why not look at Newham's Guide to Labour Market Information (LMI) for Young People. LMI is information about jobs and work trends. LMI tells you about what is happening in the world of work, and what jobs are coming up, increasing or reducing. The guide is here.