Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.

As an apprentice you’ll:

Work alongside experienced staff
Gain job-specific skills
Earn a wage and get holiday pay
Study towards a related qualification (usually one day a week)

Apprenticeships take 1 to 4 years to complete depending on their level.

Levels of Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship has an equivalent education level and could be:

Intermediate - equivalent to 5 GCSE grades 4-9
Advanced - equivalent to 2 A Level passes
Higher - equivalent to NVQ Level 4, 5, 6 & 7
Degree – equivalent to Level 6 & 7

How to apply for an Apprenticeship

Who can apply

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school. To start one, you’ll need to be:

16 or over
Living in England
Not in full-time education

How to apply

You need register your interests on the government website: Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK

The local providers are usually the local colleges e.g. Wigan and Leigh and Bolton College. But some companies may chose to use a different accredited training provider.

There are 3 steps to applying for an apprenticeship.

1. Search for an Apprenticeship

Go to ‘Find an Apprenticeship’. You can search by keyword (job title, employer or reference number) and by location (postcode, town or city), to suit your criteria. You can also search by category and apprenticeship level.

2. Sign in or create an account.

Before applying for a vacancy you will need to sign in (if you already have an account) or create a new account. It’s easy to register. To set up your account you will need an active email address and a password. Your password should be something you can remember and consist of upper and lowercase letters, a number and at least 8 characters. Once your account is set up you will use your email address and password to log in. When you register for the first time you will receive a confirmation email through your registered email address, which will contain a 6-character activation code. Put this activation code into the relevant box to activate your account.

3. Complete and submit your application

Once you have found the position you want, applying is a simple process. The application form is simple, secure and reusable. You can view the status of your applications and manage them using your online account.

If you need any further help please see Miss Horner (Careers Advisor) at the earliest convenience.

Also take a look at these other useful apprenticeship websites:

Students