Apprenticeships and traineeships offer realistic and popular alternative to university for today’s school leavers
While many young people choose to go to university, there’s a growing number of alternative options for school leavers.
There are many different routes to further education, training and employment, as well as re-training opportunities for adults. Options like apprenticeships and traineeships open a door to a wide range of rewarding careers.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said: “University isn’t the right fit for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great career.
“One exciting option is an apprenticeship, offering hands-on training and the chance to put your skills into practice – plus you earn while you learn.
“There are hundreds of different apprenticeships to choose from – for example, you can become a registered nurse by starting as a nurse cadet with no prior experience.”
Support is also available for those over 19 as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs programme. This includes free courses to earn qualifications and Skills Bootcamps, which offer free flexible courses of up to 16 weeks with an opportunity to be fast-tracked to an interview with a local employer.
To help young people understand what employers are looking for, the council is working with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP to make sure that every secondary school has the opportunity to work with a business leader to plan their careers advice programme, through Enterprise Adviser.
For further information and advice on the wide range of routes into employment, visit www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs
And remember, there are also opportunities for adult learners to develop their skills. For a full list of courses, visit www.2aspire.org.uk
Top of the class
Straight-A student Joe Savage (pictured) explains he always wanted to work with children and to find a career in which he could ‘really make a difference’.
“Going to university was an option, but that would have been for three or four years and most of my friends who have done that will be left with a lot of debt after their degree,” Joe explained. “Also, there is always the chance that when you begin a three-year course you might decide you don’t like it, and you have wasted all that time.”
With three A-levels, all at A-grade Joe, decided on a different path, and he is now six months into an 18-month apprenticeship at Bishop King Primary School in Lincoln.
“The apprenticeship option suited me perfectly, because I am doing what I wanted to do, it’s relevant to the career I have chosen and I am being paid while I learn. There is some course work to do as well as helping out in the classroom, but I would encourage anyone to look at an apprenticeship as a serious alternative to university. For me, it is very rewarding and I’m learning so much while also earning money.”