What is an apprenticeship and why should I consider one?

Apprenticeships are a great way for people of all ages to start their careers. It's a real job where you learn, gain experience and get paid. 

You'll learn valuable skills and gain real-world experience that will help prepare you for the job market.

Apprenticeships also offer lower costs than other higher education options such as attending university.

What exactly is an apprenticeship? How do they work? And why should you consider becoming an apprentice? Breakroom has got the answers!

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a training programme that combines on-the-job experience and classroom instruction.

Apprenticeships are available in many different job fields, including architecture, carpentry, construction, engineering, information technology, health care, hospitality management, manufacturing, surveying and retail - and the list goes on!

Apprenticeships are designed to get you ready for a career by providing you with hands-on experience over the course of several years. Some even give you the opportunity to earn university credit through classes taught at local colleges or universities as part of an accredited program.

Why should I consider being an apprentice?

• Apprenticeships can be a great way to get a job

• Apprenticeships can be a great way to earn money whilst also learning

• Apprenticeships can be a great way to gain skills that are attractive to employers

• Apprenticeships are cheaper than university, and you won’t even have to buy expensive textbooks or live on campus

How do I get started with an apprenticeship?

To become an apprentice, you must:

• Be 16 or over

• Not already be in full-time education

• Live in England

You can have previous experience and qualifications like a degree and still become an apprentice. You can search for apprenticeships in England: Here

Apprenticeships can open up new opportunities

Apprenticeships are a more affordable route to a career than university. In fact, apprenticeships can be as little as one year long—and you don't need to pay for them!

In fact, you'll get paid and receive holiday leave and spend 20% of your time in the classroom studying within your chosen field.

It can take between one and 6 years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which one you choose, what level it is and your previous experience. It’s funded from contributions made by the government and your employer.

Importantly, and fortunately! They are nothing like the apprenticeships you see on TV...

Are you looking for an apprenticeship? You can use Breakroom to find out what an employer is really like from the people who actually work there. This helps you discover if they are the right fit for you. 

Search apprenticeships on Breakroom

We use the responses from the 440,000+ people like you who've told us about their jobs when they've taken the Breakroom Quiz. We include an estimated pay range for all jobs, even if the pay isn’t in the job advert you'll still have an idea of what you'll be earning. 

You can search for apprenticeships by visiting HERE. Find the right job by filtering jobs by what matters to you 🫵 Things like do they pay breaks? Are all ages are paid the same? and how much notice do you get for your shifts?

* This ranking is based on employers with over 30 Breakroom Quiz responses from employees at that employer. 

** All reviews, ratings, rankings and job postings are accurate as of the 24th of January 2023