Apprenticeships

Here are a few ideas about what you could enjoy about becoming an apprentice. 

• Earn while you learn. Like your colleagues, you’ll get paid a wage right from your first day. Like the other students at college, you’ll be getting all the training and help to make sure you get your qualifications. As an apprentice you'll get the best of both worlds. You'll get at least the minimum wage for your age, but many apprentices earn much more. You can find out more about the national minimum wage here 
  
  
• Get the qualifications you need. Apprenticeships are highly focussed on helping you develop and achieve the skills, experience and qualifications employers want you to have. That means the college will also make sure your maths, English and IT skills are up to scratch
  
  
• Learn at your own pace. Another benefit to on-the-job training is that you can take the time to make sure you understand something, and ask for help if you don’t. Your Nescot tutor will also be happy to help if you have any questions about what you’re learning at work.
  
  
• Do a real job. Like your colleagues, you’ll get paid holidays and other benefits such as pension contributions. You’ll be working alongside full-time members of staff so you can get a sense of what the job will be like once you finish your training.
  
  
• Great support. Again, you have the best of both worlds, with your employer and the college working together to help you get the skills and experience you need to gain your qualification.
  
  
• Practical experience. By the time you finish your apprenticeship you’ll not only be qualified to work in the trade, you’ll also have an understanding of your role and your industry you can’t read in a book.
  
  
• Great prospects. One you’ve finished your course you could stay with your company, perhaps with a promotion, or look for a full-time job elsewhere. Our apprentices tell us the practical experience they’ve had helps them stand out from other candidates when they apply for job, and makes them feel more confident too. You could also continue into Higher Education.
  
  
• Transferable skills. Although your apprenticeship will be very focussed on your particular profession, you’ll also learn a lot of skills you’ll find useful in other industries and careers. For example, health and safety requirements, numeracy, time management and an understanding of how different roles and industries work together.

If you want to find out more about apprenticeships you can call the Advice and Guidance team on 020 8394 3038 and chat to them over the phone or make an appointment to come in to college and speak to someone in person.

When you’re ready to apply, you can follow the links on your chosen course to apply online. If you need any assistance applying please contact the Advice and Guidance team on the details above.

Once you’ve applied, the Advice and Guidance team will be in touch with you to arrange an interview with the Apprenticeships team where we will also talk to you about whether you have a job, and if you don’t how we can help to find one. You will also be able to talk about your other options, such as studying full-time.

Read the information here for more information about your next steps in applying for an apprenticeship.

Find our latest Apprenticeship job vacancies here

An apprenticeship enables anyone aged 16 and over to learn a profession by learning knowledge and skills in the classroom and gaining practical experience at work. Nescot offers apprenticeships in the subjects below.

• Associate Nursing: Level 5
• Business Administration: Level 3
• Carpentry and Joinery: Level 2
• Customer Service: Level 3
• Cyber Security Technician: Level 3
  
• Cyber Security Technologist: Level 4
• Data Analyst: Level 4
• Data Technician: Level 3
• Digital Marketer: Level 3
• Early Years Educator: Level 3
• Electrical: Level 3
• Gas Engineering Operative: Level 3
• Healthcare Play Specialist: Level 5
• Information Communication Technician: Level 3
• Operations/Departmental Manager: Level 5
• Plumbing and Heating Natural Gas Route: Level 3
• Software Developer: Level 4
• Software Development Technician: Level 3
• Team Leader/Supervisor: Level 3

Find our latest Apprenticeship job vacancies here

One of the benefits of doing an apprenticeship at Nescot is that you'll get support from both the college and your employer. The college has a dedicated apprenticeship team with staff experienced at helping apprentices and their employers, and they'll visit you at work to help you through the course.

You can expect:

• A dedicated team to support you through your English, Maths and ICT
  
• Highly-qualified tutors
  
• Occupational experts and assessors to assess you in the workplace and support you through your whole qualification
  
• Dedicated Apprenticeship advisors to provide general support throughout
  
• Access to the latest IT software and equipment, and our refurbished Learning Resource Centre

We hope you’ll be very happy while you’re studying on your apprenticeship programme, but if you do have any questions at any point you can speak to your assessor, or contact the apprenticeship team by calling 020 8394 8425 or emailing apprenticeships@nescot.ac.uk

You can find out more about what Nescot does to support students here.

We are often asked by young people and parents about the differences between an Apprenticeship and a Full-time college course. This page highlights the key differences - and similarities.

An apprenticeship is a framework of qualifications which takes place in the workplace and assesses your ability to undertake specific parts of the job.

An Apprenticeship is usually made up of at least 4 parts:

The competency qualification (NVQ)
This is specific to each course. A college assessor will visit you at work at various points during your course and observe your practical skills, judging you either as 'competent' or 'not competent'. If you are judged as not competent you'll be able to get some more practice before being assessed again.

The knowledge qualification (Technical certificate)
This is an academic assessment of your knowledge, but not all apprenticeships have this component. Assessment method is decided by the awarding body, and could include case studies, projects, practical skills tests and exams. 

Functional Skills (English, Maths and IT)
As part of your apprenticeship you are required to achieve a level of Maths, English and IT to enable you to meet the needs of employers. If you already have qualifications such as GCSEs or AS or A-Levels you may not need to do Functional Skills. Not all apprenticeships need you to have all three Functional Skills. You'll be assessed through online multiple choice exams. 

Employment right and responsibilities
Every apprentice must demonstrate they know and understand the rights of employers and employees under employment law. Teaching will cover topics including health and safety, equality and diversity and other contractual rights.

You may also have to take some sector-specific qualifications, but this will be explained at your interview.

If you’re aged 16 to 18 you won’t have to pay anything to become an apprentice because the Government will fund your apprenticeship. 

If you’re over 19 your employer will pay a contribution for your apprenticeship.

For more information about our Advanced Learning Loans, for students aged 24 and over, and other types of help available contact our Student Finance team for advice.

As an apprentice, you're legally entitled to earn at least the apprenticeship minimum wage for your age, although some people earn much more.