Live learn and earn with an apprenticeship this exam time
REGARDLESS of whether or not you got the exam grades you were hoping for, there are a wide range of options for you to consider, an apprenticeship being one of them.
An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme that helps you develop professional skills and gain a nationally-recognised level 2-5 qualification, while earning a salary – making it an excellent career choice. Anyone who is over 16, living in Wales and not in full-time education can apply for an apprenticeship.
In the past year alone Welsh training provider ACT has helped more than 6,500 16-24 year olds achieve their career ambition with apprenticeship programmes.
Daniel Morris from Newport, is just one of the many thousands of young people who is now thriving in a career he loves.
As an agency support executive at the award-winning marketing agency The Media Angel, Daniel is a multimedia account handler and is responsible for planning, creating, monitoring and evaluating marketing campaigns across various media platforms.
Daniel started a social media apprenticeship with ACT last summer and has almost completed his qualification – he shares his top three reasons why he chose a vocational qualification.
1. There are so many apprenticeships on offer “When I was growing up there were always a couple of friends who were doing apprenticeships, but that would be for carpentry, plastering or something more labour-based. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as social media apprenticeship. I was amazed when I discovered that these apprenticeships are out there.”
2. On-the-job training An apprenticeship is a great opportunity to learn on the job. The social media apprenticeship means that I’m working on what I’m learning every day and I get to see it come alive as I do it. When I think about learning I tend to think about a stuffy old teacher that would just shout if you did something wrong. My apprenticeship assessor at ACT is nothing like that. She is fun, bubbly and it’s like a catch up with an old friend, but we’re discussing things that matter and what’s helping me improve my work and career.”
3. Earn and learn “It’s brilliant that you get to earn and learn at the same time, I’ve never had that opportunity before.”
If you are not quite ready for an apprenticeship, a traineeship is an ideal way to help you become work-ready. It’s a fantastic preapprenticeship training programme that prepares 16-18 year olds for the world of work. Having spent most of your time in school or college, you will need a helping hand progressing from education to the workplace – and this is what a traineeship is for.
For more information, or to apply for an apprenticeship, visit www.acttraining.org.uk Alternatively, join ACT’s results day support chat today on Facebook or Twitter and join in the apprenticeship conversation online. Head over to @ acttrainingltd or www.facebook. com/acttraining