Apprentices

Welcome to Apprenticeships+

An Apprenticeship is the best of both worlds! Not only will you be employed full-time and earning a wage, but you will also be working towards achieving a full set of qualifications and skills that will benefit you, your employer and your future career.

To fully appreciate the benefits of being an Apprentice, it’s important that you understand all the different elements of an Apprenticeship

A full-time job and a wage

Businesses of all sizes look to recruit Apprentices as they help bring a fresh perspective and set of skills to the workforce. If you are successful in securing an Apprenticeship with an employer, you will be considered a full-time employee and will have the same benefits as one.

As an Apprentice you will be entitled to an hourly wage, which must also cover all of your study time attached to your Apprenticeship programme. The minimum Apprenticeship wage is set by the Government; however, we encourage our employers to pay their Apprentices the best wage available.

Skills and qualifications

If you successfully secure an Apprenticeship you will be enrolled on a programme of study known as an Apprenticeship Standard. This ‘Standard’ will have been designed by a group of leading industry employers in order to ensure that Apprentices are gaining the skills and qualifications in order for them to succeed within the industry.

We currently offer over 50 Apprenticeship Standards across 13 industry sectors.

Learning environment and duration

In order for you to excel in your Apprenticeship the majority of your training will take place in the workplace; you will be able to develop your skills in a supervised environment and apply what you are learning to your daily routine. As a part of your Apprenticeship you may be expected to come into college, but this will depend on your sector and the needs of your employer.

As each Apprenticeship is different depending on the Apprentice and the employer there is no set duration for an Apprenticeship. Some Apprenticeships may last for anywhere between 12-24 months, whereas others may be as long as 48 months.

Apprenticeships Sectors

12 Different Sectors

From Business and Professional to Engineering, we’ve got 12 sectors for you to find the right apprenticeship.

Science, Dental & Pharmacy

Floristry and Horticulture

Hair & Beauty

Hospitality and Catering

Engineering

Health & Social Care

See all sectors here

Apprenticeship standards

Apprentice Standards have been designed by employers with the focus now being on developing skills needed for the available job role. As a result, the employer is heavily involved with the planning and eventual progression of the Apprenticeship in order to ensure that the Apprentice undergoing the training will develop the right skills, knowledge and behaviour for the job. Use the button to access our Apprenticeship Standard overviews which will breakdown what is covered by each standard and their method of assessment.

See all standards here

Careers

An Apprenticeship is a fantastic way to develop the skills and knowledge required to excel in a particular job role. As all of our Apprenticeship Programmes are designed alongside employers, you are guaranteed to receive training that will help you excel in your chosen career.

Aditionally our Careers Advice Team are able to offer a variety of support and services to all Apprentices, click here for more information.

Here are a few of the potential careers you could end up pursuing by choosing to apply for an Apprenticeship.

Teacher Assistant
Teaching assistants support teachers and help children with reading, writing and learning activities.

Vehicle Paint Technician
A Vehicle Damage Paint Technician's role is to prepare, spray and finish vehicles that have been involved in collisions and other incidents in an efficient manner.

Catering Manager
Catering managers run the food service of organisations including restaurants, bars, schools, colleges and outside suppliers.

Levels of Apprenticeships

When applying for an Apprenticeship, it's also really important that you consider what level of study to begin at. The right Apprenticeship for you will depend on your interests, skill level and where you would like to progress to in the future.

The level of the Apprenticeship is determined by the job role that the Apprentice is in and their prior knowledge and experience. For example, a Higher Apprenticeship would require more responsibility in the job role than either an Intermediate or Advanced Apprenticeship.

Level 2
(Intermediate) equivalent to 5 x GCSEs

Level 3
(Advanced) equivalent to 2 x A Levels

Level 4/5
(Higher) equivalent to HNC/HND

How to apply

Apprenticeships are a great way to get a qualification, real work experience and earn money at the same time.

We have some great opportunities with some of the best employers in the local area, and our expert recruitment team is on hand to help you with your application and acing the interview process. There are two ways that you can apply for an Apprenticeship through The Sheffield College - apply directly for a live vacancy or apply to the standard you’d like to do and then find an employer yourself. Click here for some pointers for both approaches!