Guest Speaker during National Apprenticeships Week NAW25

Throughout this morning students in Years 9, 10 and 11 entered the Main Hall to the theme tune of the TV show, The Apprentice, giving them a big clue as to the information our guest speaker would be delivering!  Varsha Menon who is an ASK advisor from CXK visited the school today to give our students an insight into the world of apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week.  Varsha covered a variety of topics, from what an apprenticeship actually entails through the range and different levels of apprenticeships on offer, to how you find one and the next steps thereafter.

The popularity of apprenticeships is on the increase with more choices in over 700 industry sectors, covering in excess of 1500 job roles.  As an apprentice you have a full time job with a real employer, get paid a salary, and have the same company benefits as other employees might have, such as holiday and sick pay. 

Varsha explained that apprentices work towards a qualification with 80% on-the-job training and 20% off-the-job at a training provider such as a university or college.  Obtaining your qualification can take anything from 1 to 6 years depending on the chosen career, and the benefits of attending such institutions can be had without having to pay the fees!  Apprenticeships are not the easy option though, as balancing study and full time employments may not be the best path for everyone. Varsha stressed that it is crucial to do your research and find out the route needed to get into the job sector wanted.  It is vital to do what is right for you.

With so many organisations offering apprenticeships, it can often be worth looking at a favoured company's website directly to discover what they offer.  Alternatively, a vast number of websites are available to help you find your ideal industry sector apprenticeship such as the government's find an apprenticeship website. 

Varsha stressed never to underestimate the power of friends and family links either, it is wise to let others know what you are hoping to achieve as a friend of a friend might know of an apprenticeship opportunity at their current employment.  She concluded, "the opportunities are endless, it is just down to you."

During this National Apprenticeship Week, check out for our daily posts on social media and useful information can also be found on our website.

Thank you to Varsha for taking the time to share her expertise with our students.