PARENTS’ GUIDE
Why Apprenticeships are a great choice for your young person
THE FEARLESS WAY THE FOCUSSED WAY THE THEMIS WAY
A Message From Neil Burrows, Director of Themis
I understand you want the very best for your son or daughter once they finish their studies and take the next step towards a successful future, in a career that’s rewarding and successful.
An Apprenticeship – with Themis at Burnley College as the training provider – can do that.
There really hasn’t been a better time for your son or daughter to start their journey as a Themis Apprentice – and I say that as a father of two Apprentices and as a former Apprentice myself!
Businesses around East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester have Apprenticeship vacancies to suit your son or daughter right now.
They may be looking for a career in Advanced Manufacturing or Engineering. It could be Construction or Accountancy. They could see themselves in a role at the heart of Business, such as in Marketing, Human Resources or Customer Service.
There’s a Themis Apprenticeship for them.
We share your commitment to seeing your son or daughter succeed in life with the skills and knowledge for their chosen profession and the resilience, self-confidence and motivation to deal with anything life throws at them.
That’s why, as a Themis Apprentice, your son or daughter will train with experts in their chosen industry, with years of experience; will have access to the very latest industrystandard equipment and facilities and will receive individual support to overcome any barrier in their way – from health and wellbeing concerns to gaining vital Maths and English qualifications if needed.
We understand you may have questions about Apprenticeships: this guide aims to answer these questions. However, we’re always here at Themis for any queries you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships allow your young person to combine work and study: they mix on-thejob training with classroom learning. They are employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification at College. They may study one day a week or have ‘block release’ from their Employer, where they study for several weeks in College and then return to the workplace.
As an Apprentice they will follow an approved study programme and earn a nationallyrecognised qualification. At the end of their Apprenticeship, they will have gained the skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen career or progress onto the next Apprenticeship level.
What Qualifications will an apprentice gain?
The qualification they will earn depends on their chosen industry. For example, completing an Advanced (Level 3) Plumbing will earn them a BTEC Level 3 Diploma.
A Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6) will earn them a Buckinhamshire New BA (Hons) in Business Management.
If they do not already have English and Maths qualifications, they will also complete GCSEs or Functional Skills Level 2. Some Apprenticeships require them to already have GCSE Grade C/4 or above. Speak to our Themis team for more information: themis@burnley.ac.uk.
What is the academic equivalent of a Themis Apprenticeship?
There are different levels of Apprenticeship:
Level 2 - equivalent to five good GCSE passes. Level 3 - equivalent to two A Level passes Higher - equivalent to the first stages of higher education, such as a Foundation Degree Degree - comparable to a Bachelors Degree.
When should you apply for an Apprenticeship?
Your young person can apply for Apprenticeships at any time of the year - it all depends on when an Employer has a vacancy.
Are you guaranteed a job with your Employer at the end of your Apprenticeship?
Many Employers will offer their apprentice’s a permanent position on completion of their Apprenticeship. However, in some instances this does not happen. Your young person will then use their experience in the workplace; qualifications; their industry contacts and their skills and knowledge to create a winning CV, impress at interview, be mentored by Themis Staff, enter the jobs market and secure employment with another employer.
How long will a Themis Apprenticeship last?
An Apprenticeship can last between one and four years but this depends on the Industry your young person has chosen; the level of their Apprenticeship and their commitment to ensure they acquire the skills and knowledge –both practical and academic – to progress.
How much will they earn?
If you are in your first year of your Themis Apprenticeship, you will receive at least the Apprentice National Minimum Wage pay rate. If you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year of your Themis Apprenticeship, you will take home the higher National Living and Minimum Wage rates relevant to your age group.
For up to date information on Apprenticeship wages, visit https://www.gov.uk/becomeapprentice/pay-and-conditions
How many hours will an Apprentice work?
Your young person’s working hours will vary depending on their employer, but they will not work more than 40 hours or fewer than 30 hours each week. Typically, they will work between 35 and 37.5 hours a week. The sector they are entering will determine when they start and finish work – some Engineering Apprentices could start from 6am; Business Apprentices at 9am and Apprentices in the Leisure Industry may work unsocial hours.
Levels of Apprenticeships
Many Themis Apprentices have the skills, knowledge and commitment to take their Apprenticeship success to the next level. Taking a Themis Apprenticeship route into a chosen career gives the apprentice the opportunity to progress to Higher Level Apprenticeship study or gain a University Degree.
Level Two Apprenticeship standard
A Level 2 Apprenticeship usually lasts between 12 and 18 months. Your young personwill need two GCSEs at Grade 3 or above in English and Maths to have the best chance of being placed with an employer. Some Apprenticeships must start at Level 2 to build a strong foundation in specialist skills and knowledge.
Higher Apprenticeship (Level Four & Five)
Your young person needs to have gained a Level 3 qualification in order to progress to a Higher Apprenticeship. These can often be HNC and HND qualifications.
Level Three Apprenticeship standard
This is often a progression option from Level 2 Apprenticeships, but in some industries a Level 3 Apprenticeship can be a starting level. Your young person will need five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (dependent on the programme) including English and Maths to have the best chance of being placed with an employer.
Degree Apprenticeship (Level Six)
Your young person can progress onto a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship from a Level 3, 4 or 5 qualification. They will complete their studies and graduate while working with an employer in industry.
What levels do we offer?
About Degree Apprenticeships
Our Degree Apprenticeships are created by Themis at Burnley College and Burnley College University Courses.
Employers may be keen to bring additional skills into the workplace to drive their business forward and pass on to the rest of the workforce. Apprentices split their time between the workplace and University, where the knowledge acquired from industry experts in the specialist training facilities can be directly applied to real-life projects. There are many benefits to taking a Degree Apprenticeship.
A Degree Apprentice will:
• Earn a wage throughout the programme
• Gain a full degree without paying student fees
• Acquire graduate/postgraduate level skills
• Apply higher and degree level learning into the workplace to make an impact and drive business forward.
About University-Level Study
Burnley College University Courses (BCUC) is based at Burnley College on our modern Campus. It is a specialist in the provision of industry-led university-level courses and the perfect location to take studies to the next level.
BCUC offers:
• A comprehensive range of HNC, HND, Foundation Entry, Foundation and post-graduate qualifications
• Industry expert Lecturers, with significant, wide-ranging experience in their chosen sectors
• Strong links with local, regional and national Employers who add industry-specific insights into academic studies
• Facilities that are industry-standard and include high-tech workshops, laboratories and IT suites
• Additional support to ensure learners have the enhanced academic skills to master degree-level study.
Next Steps
If your young person’s is a school leaver, their first step to find out more about Apprenticeships is to contact our Themis Team.
They offer the advice and guidance your young person needs to decide if an Apprenticeship is the ideal route into their chosen industry and a successful career.
your young person
How to become a Themis Apprentice
Application
Your young person can apply for their chosen Apprenticeship via our website, Burnley.ac.uk/themis
Interview
Your young person will be introduced to a Themis Trainer, a specialist in their chosen industry. This is their opportunity to impress and show us they are:
• Smartly presented
• Punctual
• Able to explain why they want to be a Themis Apprentice
• Keen to talk about their ideal career
If they are successful, they’ll be given advice on what areas they need to work on and research, before being invited in for a second interview.
They will be asked to send:
• Their CV
• Their predicted GCSE Grades and latest school reports
• A reference from an employer (if they have a job in their spare time) or school
Second Interview
At the second interview, they’re expected to show they are:
• Able to talk confidently about why a Themis Apprenticeship is for them and fully understand the commitment involved
• Able to talk knowledgeably and passionately about their ideal career
• Smartly presented
• Punctual
If the Themis Trainer Assessor is confident your young person has what it takes to become a successful Themis Apprentice and #futureboss, they will be allocated their own recruitment consultant from the Themis team.
The Themis team will introduce your son or duaghter to potential Employers with Apprenticeship vacancies and your young person should also start looking for an employer themselves if they don’t already have one.
Your young person will receive their own Themis portfolio to store documents, which will impress at interviews with potential Employers and make them stand out from the crowd.
Themis Toolkit Workshops
If the Themis Trainer feels your young person would benefit from additional support before meeting Employers, they will have the opportunity to take part in Themis Toolkit workshops to enhance their skills in:
• CV Writing
• Interview
• Presentation
• Working as part of a team
Once your young person has completed the workshop(s), they will have the opportunity to demonstrate how the Themis Toolkit has helped them improve or they will be given advice tailored to their specific needs on alternative routes to help them achieve their goals, such as a full-time academic course or a traineeship.
Meet their Employer and Trainer Assessor
If the Themis Team match your son or daughter with an employer, they may want to interview them. They will be introduced to their Trainer Assessor who will support them with one-toone advice and guidance.
Start their new role
Congratulations! Your young person is now a Themis Apprentice. The Themis Team and their Trainer Assessor will be here for them throughout their career as a Themis Apprentice on their journey to becoming a #futureboss.
The Themis Pledge to you as a Parent
We will work tirelessly to ensure your young person is empowered and supported to excel in their chosen Apprenticeship.
We will work with your young person, individually to ensure they understand all the career options open to them through a Themis Apprenticeship and support them to make the very best choices.
We will ensure they have the skills at their disposal to make a great first impression with potential employers – from creating the perfect CV, researching their chosen industry area, excelling in an interview and creating powerful and persuasive presentations if needed.
We will support them in making that important transition from student life to the world of work, tailoring our advice and guidance to their individual circumstances.
We will ensure our training in both College and the workplace is relevant to their career choices and goals, challenging them to be the very best and excel.
We will celebrate their successes with them, encouraging them to be ambitious and to test their skills against the very best Apprentices in the region, UK and world.
We will keep you informed of their progress within their training and alert you to any potential issues quickly.
