Action Plan: Apprenticeships
Want an apprenticeship? Do some research…
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Visit the National Apprenticeship Service for full information about apprenticeships and how they work Think about what area of work you want to train in. Research careers which interest you on Job Profiles and find out if you can train through an apprenticeship Is this option available in Sussex? The apprenticeships on offer locally will reflect the local labour market. Use www.apprenticeships-in-sussex.com to identify local training providers and which areas of training they can offer. Visit BrightonandHoveJobs.com to look at the Apprenticeship section (offered in partnership with Brighton and Hove Council). You can look at examples of current vacancies in the local area. Visit this site regularly to see what kinds of jobs are available in the Brighton and Hove area. Look at the types of qualifications, skills and attitude asked for. This can vary between employers. By checking vacancies regularly, you’ll have a better idea of what you will need.
If you decide to go ahead….
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Return to the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and register your details. Once you are registered, NAS will send relevant vacancies to you – or you can sign in and browse for yourself. It’s good to do a general search because sometimes you may find out about opportunities that you may not have heard of or considered. Register direct with local training providers as directed on www.apprenticeships-insussex.com Contact them to find out more about local employment and the chances of finding an employer locally. For example, they will be able to tell you, how many applicants they have and how many of those they have successfully matched with an employer. If you register with training providers, they will usually invite you to an interview or possibly an aptitude test (for construction, engineering and some areas) before taking you onto their waiting list. If you are accepted on their waiting list, they will
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then forward you as a candidate to any employers they find. They will also ask you to continue looking for employers yourself.
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To maximise your chances of finding an apprenticeship, you may need to broaden your geographical search beyond Brighton and Hove. Look at local travel links e.g. buses and trains and think about areas of East and West Sussex that you could also look at.
Finding your own employer….
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Identify local employers using www.burrows.co.uk/brighton
a
directory
such
as
www.yell.com
or
Try telephoning – ask to speak to the manager and make sure you write down the details of the call. Ask if they have ever taken an apprentice or would consider doing so. Be ready to tell them about yourself and why you want to train in this area. If you prefer, you could prepare your CV and a covering letter. You could post or email this to employers and ask if they take apprentices or would consider doing so. Do not be disheartened if you do not receive a reply to your letter. Sadly, companies do not always respond (however politely you may have written). If you are turned down by telephone, ask if the situation is likely to change and if so, would it be ok to call back again in the future. If they say it’s ok to call back, agree when e.g. six months, a year. Keep a written record of all contacts, dates and names of those you have written or spoke to, also any future action needed e.g. if you are asked to contact them again later in the year. Research national employers and schemes. Larger employers will have details of their schemes on-line. Research these employers early on so that you can plan for application deadlines (often early in the New Year – allowing them to interview and recruit for a summer start).
Back-up Plans •
It can be hard to find an apprenticeship. What will you do if you can’t find an employer for September? Consider a college application as a back-up option? You may be able to start on a vocational course in a similar area e.g. hairdressing, construction etc.
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College applications are encouraged in the autumn term, e.g. before Christmas. To keep college as a realistic back-up option, you may need to apply early, even before you have applied for an apprenticeship. If you are successful in gaining an apprenticeship, you can contact the college to let them know you no longer need the place.
Produced August 2011 by the Healthy Schools Team @ Brighton and Hove Council
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