What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships combine real work with training and study. Unlike college or university, you’ll apply what you learn directly on the job, gaining hands-on experience and skills.
As an apprentice you will:
- train for the workplace: gain skills directly relevant to your job
- get hands-on experience: work on real tasks and projects
- earn a salary with employee rights: receive pay and entitlement to employment rights such as sick leave and holiday pay.
- spend at least 20% of your working hours training or studying: allocate a portion of your time to learning and development.
- complete ongoing assessments: regularly evaluate your progress and finish with an assessment.
Apprenticeships take 1 to 6 years to complete, depending on:
- the type of apprenticeship
- the level you choose
- your previous experience
If you take a break from learning, it may take longer to finish.