Five False Myths about Apprenticeships

1) Apprenticeships are only for people who can’t get into university

It’s an assumption that many people tend to make when thinking about an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, a lot of people believe it but it’s not true! Apprenticeships are for anyone who enjoys hands on learning and they are an EQUAL alternative to university. So if you’re looking to save money instead of spending it, apprenticeships could be a better alternative to university and a more secure way of entering the world of employment.

 

2) Apprenticeships are only available in blue collar industries e.g. construction, plumbing etc.

This might have been the case 30 years ago but not anymore. Apprenticeships are available in almost any industry you can think of, whether it’s for a small business or a corporate company, you can get an apprenticeship in pretty much anything. With the Government backing apprenticeships more than ever, the industry is only going to grow with more and more jobs being created across all sectors and industries. Have a look at the occupations we cover.

 

3) University is a better route into employment than Apprenticeships

This is absolutely not true! If anything, doing an apprenticeship puts you straight into a job that you are statistically likely to stay in once the scheme finishes. So, if you already have an idea about what you want to do as a career then doing an apprenticeship will put you in the perfect position to develop within a company and gain an understanding of a working environment. Apprentices have a ton of job-specific skills compared to most graduates, which usually places them in a better position when looking for employment.

 

4) You won’t earn as much as a graduate if you do an Apprenticeship

The main thing that puts people off apprenticeships is the minimum wage of £2.73 an hour, which really doesn’t seem like a lot of money. Although, when you think about it in the long-term, you actually save money doing an apprenticeship. Most graduates start on a good wage but that does not write off their 3-4 years of student loan debt and by the time graduates are placed within a role, some apprentices could already be in a managerial position and would have had a significant increase in their wage. You are only paid so little to begin with to fund the qualification and training that you receive for free, your wage as an apprentice is only set to increase the further you progress through the scheme. Have a look at our Appreticeships or University leaflet to see some facts and figures.