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Information and support about Apprenticeships and Skills
Information and opportunities for apprentices in Dorset and Somerset.
Apprenticeship Information for You
Apprenticeships are very much like normal, full time jobs but with tailored training and qualifications included within them. To give you the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for the job role.
As an Apprentice you’ll be employed on a full time or part time basis, and will have time set aside as part of your employment to work towards Apprenticeship qualifications working with your employer and training provider.
It usually takes between one and five years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take and in what industry.
There are hundreds of different apprenticeships to choose from. Whether you’re at the start of your career, want to change career direction, or if you’re returning to work after a break.
To start your career you usually need a combination of experience in the workplace, employability skills and qualifications.
An apprenticeship gives you all of these by combining on the job training with study meaning you can earn while you learn. With some apprenticeships you can even get a degree.
It usually takes between one and five years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take and in what industry.
Reasons why an apprenticeship could be right for you:
- Earn a wage whilst learning
- Gain practical and relevant work experience
- Develop the key skills that employers want within the industry – an attractive prospect for future employers
- Achieve career-relevant qualification(s)
- Avoid student loans
The national minimum wage for an apprentice aged 16-18 is £4.15 per hour – April 2020.
The same applies if you’re 19 and over and in the first year of your apprenticeship, after that you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
However many employers pay more than this. The same applies if you’re 19 and over and in the first year of your apprenticeship, after that you are entitled to the National Minimum Wage. However many employers pay more than this.
As an apprentice, you are paid for your normal working hours and your time spent training as part of your apprenticeship (usually one day per week).
Pay is dependent on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship, for example some higher apprenticeships can pay as much as £500 per week.
For a current example (July 2020) – an opportunity for a Higher Level IT Support Officer in Somerset pays £21 892 – £24157 a year
Many businesses employ apprentices, small employers with less than 10 employees, all the way up to large multi-national and global companies based in England. You may want to apply locally or be prepared to apply for an apprenticeship away from home.
Apprenticeships are available in many industries from A to Z, from Accountancy through to Zoology.
What interests you? That is an important question because what an employer is interested in when they are looking for an apprentice is punctuality, reliability and having a real interest in the job, alongside a willingness to learn.
There are many ways to find an apprenticeship:
- Ask your Local Councils
- Approach companies direct
- Recruitment agencies
- Adverts in the local paper
- A follow on from Work experience
- Contact your local Training Provider and/or College
- Word of mouth
You can also search live vacancies to see what is available and apply using the Find an Apprenticeship tool.
You can expect to complete an application form and provide an up to date CV. Some employers will ask you to take a short test before an interview or give you a task to complete. You can then expect an interview with the employer.
Good luck – Please bear in mind applying for an apprenticeship is applying for a job – others may be interested as well, it may be competitive, so be your best you that you can be.
For more information, contact us.
Resources
Traineeship Information for You
Can I be a Trainee?
A Traineeship gives you work experience with an employer. At the same time you will get Work Preparation Training plus English and Maths (if needed). It’s a way into an Apprenticeship, Employment or Further Education.
You’ll get:
- a work experience placement
- help with English and maths (if you need it)
- You won’t be paid, but you may be given expenses for things like travel and meals.
You can apply if you’re:
- eligible to work in England
- unemployed and have little or no work experience
- aged 16 to 24 and qualified below Level 3
Trainee information
Traineeships are an ideal opportunity for you if you are aged 16 to 24, you are motivated to get a job or an Apprenticeship but lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for.
Those who have been unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship or other job due to a lack of skills and experience are most likely be good candidates for a traineeship.
To get your career started you usually need a combination of experience in the workplace, employability skills and qualifications. A Traineeship can get you off to the right start and gives you the work experience, work preparation skills and other skills to get an Apprenticeship or a job. It can help you gain the skills you need and offer you an opportunity to take the next step in your career.
It usually takes between six weeks and six months to complete a Traineeship depending on your skills, the opportunities available and the Apprenticeship or job you are looking for.
A Traineeship could be for you if you are,
- Motivated to work.
- Unemployed, or work fewer than 16 hours per week and have little work experience.
- Aged between 16-24 and have no qualifications above GCSE or equivalent.
Those who have been unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship or other job due to a lack of skills and experience are most likely be good candidates for a traineeship.
Those who have been unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship or other job due to a lack of skills and experience are most likely be good candidates for a traineeship.
You won’t be paid, but you may be given expenses for things like travel and meals.
Many Colleges and Training Providers can support you to participate in a Traineeship. You will need to contact them, maybe use this site to find a college or provider near you and their contact details.
They will help you to find out what you need to take your next step and shape a Traineeship for you.
The work experience will be with an employer who is willing and able to support your work experience and the work preparation and other skills may be completed in the College or Training Provider.
Apprenticeships are available in many industries from A to Z, from Accountancy through to Zoology.
What interests you? That is an important question because what an employer is interested in when they are looking for an apprentice is punctuality, reliability and having a real interest in the job, alongside a willingness to learn.
Contact your local College or Training Provider, you can use this site to find the one near you or the one that can offer what you want. Just contact them.
If you are in receipt of benefits you should speak to your Jobcentre Plus adviser.
You can also search live vacancies to see what is available and apply using the Find an Apprenticeship tool in the Apprenticeship section of this site. Some Traineeship vacancies are posted on this national site.
You can expect to complete an application form and provide an up to date CV. Some employers will ask you to take a short test before an interview or give you a short task to complete. You can then expect an interview with the employer.
Good luck
For more information, contact us.
Traineeship Vacancies
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Skills Information for You
"A skill is the capacity to perform, drawing on what is known"
An employer looks for the right person with the right skills, knowledge and behaviours when employing people.
The skills, knowledge and behaviours that you have determines in many cases your job and your future prospects. Developing the skills you have or learning new skills to progress can be challenging and also great fun and a great benefit to you.
You may be looking to improve your skills for your current situation both work or personal, looking to move into a new job role, or you may just enjoy learning new skills and improving yourself.
There is a very wide range of Skill Up opportunities to develop your skills, Knowledge and Behaviours to suit most sectors and people. There are sector specific and generic sector and business skills training and education opportunities to support development that are bite sized short courses, accredited qualifications and bespoke courses to meet your needs.
There are far too many opportunities available to mention, please contact the Skill Up Information and Employment Adviser.
Having the skills, knowledge and behaviours that you need for life and the employment market is essential for many people.
Why not give yourself the opportunity to improve skills where appropriate, this could lead to new doors opening for you.
Many Colleges, Training Providers and other organisations can support you to Skill Up. The Skill Up team are constantly updating their knowledge of the opportunities available and through the partnership with the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network can source provision from a wide range of providers.
There are also a number of Local, Regional and National initiatives that are available from time to time, again the Skill Up team will be aware and can signpost you to the appropriate contact.
The cost can vary from Government funded, Co funded with Government support and full cost to the you.
Eligibility criteria often apply and can vary from opportunity to opportunity.
Contact us today to help to short cut your route to the right information.
For more information, contact us.
Improve your skills information
Increasingly jobs are requiring formal training and qualifications.
Developing your skills through further training provides significant benefits including:
Benefits of improving your skills
Increased employment and progression prospects
- Training is proven to enhance your employment opportunities.
- In undertaking and completing a training course, your progression, and employment opportunities are improved.
Enhanced career opportunities
- In most sectors and job roles, simply having lots of experience, does not always suffice for employers.
- By taking further training, the opportunity to develop your career is definitely enhanced.
Personal growth
- Training provides much more than just new skills and can bring increased confidence, new networks and improved communication and other skills
- Taking control over your personal development
Knowledge Updating
- Keeping your knowledge up to date