This National Apprenticeship Week we will be rolling our apprenticeship advice, Frequently Asked Questions for Apprentices, Employers and Parents / Guardians, in addition to some apprentice, employer and staff stories. We also have a dedicated Apprenticeships Team at the Engineering College and encourage you to email our manned info@theengineeringcollege.co.uk email if you have any enquiries.
Apprenticeships are only for school leavers aged 16-18.
Apprenticeships have no maximum age cap – you can do an apprenticeship from the age of 16 and over. Many of our apprentices are in their twenties when they begin their apprenticeship with the Engineering College. We welcome all apprentices from those with little work experience looking to secure employment within the engineering industry to those who have a lot of experience in industry and are looking to up-skill or cross over into a new sector of industry.
Apprenticeships don’t pay well
There is a National Minimum Wage rate that is specific for Apprentices. In 2020 this rate, along with the National Minimum Wage rate by age group increased. As an apprentice you are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage rate for Apprentices. Some employers pay their apprentices the National Minimum Wage rate which is higher than the Apprentice rate and some employers build a tiered structure into how their apprentice/s will be paid, e.g. after completion of the first year, your pay will rise, it may rise when you complete each year or you may see a rise in pay after completion of your apprenticeship. Don’t forget too that the employer pays for your apprenticeship; whether it is a Level 3, 4 or higher level apprenticeship. It always depends on the employer but we typically find that our apprentices earn a good wage throughout their apprenticeship and they are given opportunities to professionally develop with the employer.
University can guarantee me a degree where as Apprenticeships are not at that level.
Apprenticeships have been restructured to provide apprentices with limitless opportunities to develop. You can study an apprenticeship from level 2 through to level 7 (Masters Level). We offer Apprenticeships at Level 3 (A-Level), Level 4 (HNC or first year of a degree) and are reviewing the option to deliver Level 5 Apprenticeships (HND or second year of a degree) and where this is not currently possible, we have a close relationship with local universities in Liverpool which offer quality Engineering Degree level qualifications. Within our own team we have five employees on degree apprenticeships and masters level apprenticeships. Apprenticeships also open the door to professional certification with an industry body – for our programmes this would be with IMechE, IMarEST or The Welding Institute (TWI).
You cannot do an apprenticeship in everything. Some careers require a degree from a university.
There are very few careers that would require a degree from a university, particularly in the engineering industry where experience and practical skills are invaluable. Most careers are apprenticeship-friendly and some actually prefer the experience that an apprenticeship can offer, similar to the ‘sandwich year degree’. To find a full list of apprenticeships, go to Apprenticeships.gov or for Liverpool City Region information visit Be More – Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships are for people who did really bad at school
This is such a common phrase and is a complete myth! Its the age old adage that Apprentices should be practical, hands on and not particularly ‘academic’.
In actual fact, Apprenticeships are a great alternative to university. If you are looking at your options and are applying to universities then you should also apply for apprenticeships. It is really easy to apply on the National Apprenticeship Service website and once you’ve set up your profile, you can apply for whatever interests you. Alternatively, you can apply direct for one of our courses by following the simple form here. Every apprenticeship has entry requirements and most of ours require a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C or Grades 4-9 to apply for an apprenticeship opportunity. We also offer pre-apprenticeship programmes that people can apply for if they do not meet all the entry requirements for an Apprenticeship.
The Engineering College places learners at the heart of the curriculum. As an apprentice, you will have wrap around support from your tutors, mentors, employer and learner support team. There are a lot of opportunities and a range of apprenticeships you can apply for – but before you get started, check out our FAQ Students page for all of your enquiries. To apply for an apprenticeship, click on Apply Now! and start your journey to finding out about apprenticeships in your area.
All students at The Engineering College are part of a learning community at the college, choosing to study with our team and better their knowledge and skills for a career in a worthwhile industry. We value the relationship we have with our students, employers, parents, carers and guardians. With Apprenticeships on the rise in the UK, some parents who are new to the idea of apprenticeships or who may want to know how we deliver apprenticeships are actively encouraged to get in touch with our team and read the FAQ page.
We have worked at the heart of industrial Merseyside for more than 20 years servicing engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses – small and large in sectors that include maritime, energy, construction, food and drink, composites, advanced manufacturing, public services, rail and medical engineering. To make an enquiry with our team, please click Employer Enquiry under ‘Employers’ or contact our team at info@theengineeringcollege.co.uk and a member of our team will be in touch with how we can help you train, retain and up-skill your workforce.
One benefit of an apprenticeship is that you can receive recognised qualifications while gaining valuable work experience as a key component within a company. My advice would be to never be afraid to ask for help. Even the experts where once beginners. Don’t let your pride get in the way of progress, it is understandable that you will want to do everything asked of you and to want to impress, but we all have our limits. Asking for a little help as you learn will go a long way with the tradespeople training you.
I started my apprenticeship in 1979 at Lucas Girlng as a machine tool fitting apprentice and worked in industry for 32 years. I chose to do an apprenticeship because it is an excellent way to gain access to a job sector you really want to work in, you are trained from the basics of your trade right the way through until you come out of your time, the skills you learn as an apprentice can be transferable to other trades and enable you to not only specialise in your chosen profession but also allow you to do things that were originally outside of your comfort zone i.e. design and build decking and garden sheds / workshops. During my time in industry, I worked on projects like the high speed Pendalino trains that are used in both Spain and Italy, the TGV trains that run through the channel tunnel, Merseyrail Trains, Manchester Trams and Harley Davidson braking systems working as both a design engineer and a project engineer.
I myself rose from apprentice machine tool fitter, to design engineer and then a Project Engineer. So with hard work and determination the world is your oyster. An apprenticeship gives you the skills and knowledge that can be added to throughout your professional career and gives you a corner stone from which to build your future on. My advice would be to enjoy what you do; not only are apprenticeships a great way to really understand an industry and find a career that you enjoy, as with many workplaces you get to meet different people and make new friends.
