Anyone doing an apprenticeship?

[HD]

I'm in sixth form but am dropping out to do an apprenticeship hopefully. Just did the assessment diagnostic things today, maths, english and ICT.

I have a vocational assessment on Thursday and just wondering what to expect and how to prepare really?

Thanks!
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[Redoko]

Have you definitely been offered a place?
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[Harold_Shand]

Level 2 or level 3?
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[Blackwolf]

FINISH 6TH FORM!

What's your back up plan if you don't like the apprenticeship?
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Current: Ducati Multistrada 1200s

[Ayrton]

Are you in the first or second year of sixth form?
An apprentership is completely different. Sixth form is supposed to be for someone who wants to go to university, an apprentership is just for people who want to get trained and get a job.

[tbourner]

The apprenticeship was the best thing I did. I'm 30 and still haven't finished my degree (Open Uni), but I am lead Engineer of the department, and 2 other apprentices that were in my year are both project managers in the company, we've all been there for 8 years now.
However, if you're nearly finished on your current studies and can finish that first then it's best of both worlds? We've just had an apprentice start who's 21, been working for a few years with no real qualifications, now starting his HNC. Even if you finish the quals then get a regular job with the aim of getting more training/qualifications - working 4 days a week or something?
If it's now or never then depends on your situation, what type of job it is, do you NEED money at the moment etc.
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[pepperami]

You need to have a place in employment to do an apprenticeship, sounds obvious but some people are not aware of that.

So if you have a place with an employer, we can begin

The diagnostics are so that the college/provider know where you are in your abilities regarding English, Maths, & IT.
You will also have a VARK test, but dont worry.
This is an easy little test to see what type of learner you are.
This is done so that your provider/college/assessor/tutor can deliver your subject in a fashion that is best for you.

You will need to do Key-Skills/Functional-Skills as part of the framework of your apprenticeship.
Depending on your school results, will dictate how much Key-skills/Funtional-skills you will need to do.

Obviously there is the NVQ

Then there is the B-Tec qualification.
I can only say how we do it in my subject, but we inbed it into the NVQ, meaning my students/candidates do a a slightly bigger NVQ and the B-Tec is done as well.
However that will depend on your subject and how your college do things.

I hope that gives you a few things to think about in a posative light
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[Bluebandit123]

I'm doing an AAT apprenticeship, I did my A Levels but decided that realistically an apprenticeship would be better for me than going to Uni.

It depends what you'll be doing, I've seen retail assistant 'apprenticeships' advertised, sometimes it's just an excuse to pay employees less than minimum wage.

Personally I'm really enjoying it, I started on the 27th of Feb, have completed level 2 and I start level 3 next month As I'm 19 I should get a pay rise next Feb.

The wage DOES suck BUT I'll be trained right through to the end of level 4, if I'm kept on I'll then have the opportunity to take further training.

*edit* actually, my brother did a mechanical & electrical engineering apprenticeship and he's doing well for £££

[Nick 50]

OP can I ask what your apprenticeship is in?

[tbourner]

[HD]

Second year of sixth form, failed maths last year and retaking physics so only doing engineering at A2. Plan is to go forward and do an engineering apprenticeship. Reason why is because I need a C at Maths A2 and if I got a U at AS then I haven't got much hope.

I just went to an enrolment evening for my local college to ask some questions, next thing I know they are making me sign forms. One of the ladies there said that my grades (GCSE) were so good I could pretty much get an apprenticeship anywhere, 12 A*-C's.

Then I came home from work the other day and there was a letter asking me to attend some assessments. Went today and the woman said I did well (they made me do the higher level) and she was going to speak to some guy about getting me an apprenticeship ASAP. Now I have to go to this vocational assessment on Thursday. Reason why I was asking really. Then I get to pick an employer/course.

I'm not going to pick some crap one though, if it means I have to wait til September I will, but the three main ones I am looking at are Babcock, Princess Yachts and the MOD (DE&S). I am only going to take one that after my apprenticeship will sponsor me to do a degree.

There are one or two opening still for this year, a place called PR Nautica may have a place or two. They refurbish, repair and fit luxury yachts with amazing stuff. Make them look like apartments Do fancy that but will see what comes up after thursday. Any ideas what it involves anyone?

Thanks again everyone!

[tbourner]

[Ayrton]

Seems odd that your changing your mind after the second year has started.
I was in a simular situation after failing my AS levels last year and had to decide between college and an apprentership. Chose college though because i want to go to Uni.

Dont rush into a rubish apprentership. You can always stay in sixth form and finish your year and earn some more qualifications and then apply next year with a better chance of getting accepted.

[HD]

What the vocational assessment entails? Cos once I've done that, I don't have to do assessments if I get an apprenticeship this year or next so I have time.

And no, not going to, would rather hold out for the right one. As said, the big ones don't even start the application process until Christmas sort of time but if one comes up now, ideals!

And the reason why its after my second year has started was my grades only came back like 3 weeks ago, then I was looking to see what I was going to do this year and then prospects of uni, decided that I wasn't going to get in and its a bad idea anyway so spoke to people at the college who agreed and here I am
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[tbourner]

Vocational assessment probably means an aptitude test, just loads of little questions on different subjects like maths, spacial awareness etc. My apprenticeship was screwed up because I did my assessment with the MOD then didn't get offered an apprenticeship, then when I went for another one they sent me for another assessment for some reason, and I got defaulted to the HNC course even though I had some of the best scores (enough for the higher HND course)! Because you can't do more than 1 assessment.

Anyway I'd say do it, you'll most likely get an HNC or HND (BTec lvl 3 or 4 I think they're called now) and an NVQ3 and probably NVQ4 if you want (although I wouldn't bother). You can always go on to do a degree afterwards, most likely you'll want to do the OU or similar by that point rather than taking a few years out of your new job!
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[drzsta]

I've literally just finished my 4 year electrotechnical apprenticeship (Electrician). I left after my AS Levels because all I could see myself doing was Army or some sort of engineering apprenticeship

21 now and Luckily it all panned out and I've now got a piss easy job at the end of it for a good salary that is well above the JIB rate for a sparks.
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[swampy]

No offence, but why would any company sponsor you to do a degree when you're struggling at A level ?
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[tbourner]

[Kingstondavo]

We have apprentice schemes where I work. To get on them you need A Levels though. Think carefully about dropping out of sixth form - can really limit you in the future...
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Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[swampy]

[tbourner]

Aha OK. I started my degree off my own back, then asked work if they'd like to pay for it cos I couldn't afford to, it certainly wasn't agreed up front. The apprenticeship only covered HNC and NVQ3. Still to me that plus 3/4 years experience is much better than some A-levels.
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Trev, now a biker?
Looking for first big bike.

[Nick 50]

[bikertomm]

I'm sort of doing an apprenticeship..

Actually no, I'm just a trainee.


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[Conzar]

I was in the same position as you at the beginning of this year,
came back after Christmas to carry on at 6 form and I just thought to my self, do I really want to go to uni? do I want to pursue a career in Business study's ? (what I was doing at 6 form)
To be honest I hated it and knew a few mates that had an apprenticeship I thought about it and decided to look for one.

I applied had a interview did a test and here I am now 9 months down the line and honestly mate its the best thing iv'e done,
If you find a good company and training company, don't fuck around and you enjoy what your doing..do it!
You will hopefully be qualified enough to start on a decent wage and get some very valuable experience in that job role which will stand out and count for a whole lot of good!

Good luck mate!
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[mistergixer]

I was the part of the trial run of the first ever 'modern' apprenticeship scheme, that was back in about 1993.

I did a mixture of electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering at a local college (prior to getting a work placement and continuing my studies at evening classes), thoroughly enjoyed it and it has stood me in good stead ever since.


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