News: Blog — 5 common apprenticeship questions answered

You won’t have to pay anything as an apprentice. Apprenticeships are funded by the government/​contributions from your employer. 

So, you’ll be earning a qualification you don’t have to pay for, and earning a wage while you learn! 

When choosing an apprenticeship, the learning part means you’ll be given time to work towards a recognised qualification, like people who are in school or college. But the main difference is that you’ll also have a real job, and earn a wage.

Rates of pay can vary like in any job, but the current national minimum wage for apprentices who are in their first year (and/​or aged 16 – 18), is currently £4.15 per hour. 

Remember this is only a minimum wage though. Apprentices aged 19+ are also eligible for the general National Minimum Wage after their first year, which is higher than the apprenticeship rate. 

You might be surprised to see the wealth of apprenticeships available, not just in hands-on skilled trades, but also a huge range of career areas, such as: business and accounting, supporting teaching and learning in schools, IT, engineering, pharmacy services, dental nursing, sport, and many more! 

There are even degree-level apprenticeships. 

A small number of careers don’t currently offer apprenticeship routes, such as if you want to become a surgeon or a psychiatrist, but most career sectors are now accessible through an apprenticeship.

If you’re not sure about your future career get in touch! We’re here to help and there are a wealth of options available (alongside apprenticeships Nottingham College offer the widest range of options for school leavers in the region!). 

It’s actually pretty straightforward, but it can seem confusing because there are quite a few ways you can get a place on an apprenticeship, a bit like there are different ways to get jobs. You’ll need to put the effort in, as you’re going to be employed in a real job, but there is help and advice out there!

For example, at Nottingham College we advertise vacancies on our website, and we have a dedicated apprenticeship team to help with CV writing, applications, interviews, and even finding vacancies in the first place! 

The short answer is no! In fact, there is only a lower age limit – you’ll need to be 16 or over by the time you want to start. You can register your interest and even apply while you’re still at school though.

For example, if you’re taking your GCSEs this year and would like to start an apprenticeship when you get your results, you can start searching for vacancies now. You’ll just need to be 16 or over by the time you’d be starting the apprenticeship. 

There are also plenty of opportunities for adults, and apprenticeships start throughout the year! 

Can’t find the apprenticeship you’re looking for? Don’t worry! Get in touch with our apprenticeship team using the contact form on our website and we’ll be in touch to discuss your options and answer your questions.