National Apprenticeship Week 2020 is here and, with the annual event now extended to include the weekend, there are seven full days dedicated to sharing the theme ‘Look Beyond’. 

 

For young people, this means being encouraged to look beyond the customary routes into jobs. Instead, they’re asked to explore the wide and varied range of career options offered by apprenticeships. Parents and teachers, too, are urged to share this message, while employers can explore the potential for diversifying their staff by recruiting more apprentices. 

 

Director of Apprenticeships Group, ESFA, Keith Smith, comments: “With National Apprenticeship Week going into its thirteenth year, everyone behind and involved in it must also ‘Look Beyond’ and consider how and where we talk about Apprenticeships to ensure that we reach all corners and communities of the country with this important message.” 

 

To celebrate the achievements of apprentices and recognise the support given to them by businesses and education organisations, there will be more than 1250 events taking place in company premises, schools and colleges across the country.  

 

Many will bring together apprentices, employers, educators, training providers and politicians, with current and former apprentices also returning to classrooms to share their personal stories and inspire the next generation. 

 

Among the many kickstarter events being held today is the Apprenticeship Roadshow in Birmingham. This will offer students interested in working with children the opportunity to come along and see what it would be like to work as a childcare practitioner – and appreciate what being an apprentice student in this sector entails. 

 

Also taking place today is the Get Into Transport Apprenticeship Fair in Kensington, London. This has been designed for prospective apprentices and their parents, with Transport for London and more than 30 of its suppliers, as well as other transport bodies including HS2, Network Rail and Heathrow Airport, seeking recruits for hundreds of apprenticeship places. 

 

The multi-campus University of Wales Trinity St David, meanwhile, will be hosting an employer breakfast meeting tomorrow with the theme “Promoting Degree Apprenticeships”. 

 

The sheer breadth and depth of interest being shown in National Apprenticeship Week reflect the fact the advantages of apprenticeships are not underestimated by employers or job seekers.  

 

As well as benefitting from first-hand knowledge and technical know-how, apprentices gain skills for life. Effective communication, time management, conflict resolution and much more. All of which enable apprentices to fully prepare for the world of work, give them the extra confidence to seek out exciting career opportunities on x1jobs and, ultimately, stand them in good stead for many years to come. 

 

Once perceived by many as a second-place alternative to college or university education, this is why apprenticeships today are regarded as fulfilling and productive pathways into many different professions.  

 

And the good news is these doors of opportunity are now opening more frequently to applicants of all ages and from all backgrounds. 

 

It’s not surprising then that apprenticeship vacancies on x1jobs – most of which offer the chance to earn while you learn – attract so many recruits. The balance of workplace experience and off-the-job training, normally provided in a college or university environment, provides ample opportunities to apply theoretical studies straight away on live projects.  

 

Moreover, beginners can learn directly from co-workers, colleagues and mentors, many of whom will be highly experienced and senior managers. 

 

Of course, the apprenticeship model suits employers, too. With 90% of recruits staying on with their chosen company after finishing their apprenticeship, the investment, time and energy spent on training and nurturing talent pay huge dividends. 

 

Right now, there are apprenticeships on x1jobs in traditional sectors and cutting-edge technologies, where even absolute beginners can help lead innovation in workplaces. From engineering and science to production and food and drink and from social services and healthcare to finance and HR, Modern Apprenticeships cover every sector imaginable. 

 

Of course, not all apprenticeships are traditional. Over the next week, for example, nine UK Ferrari dealers are holding Open Days to showcase apprenticeship opportunities. Pupils are being invited from local schools to service centres to learn about automotive technology and potential job openings. 

 

The Ferrari North Europe Apprentice programme is open to students with at least five GCSEs and who are interested in working in a three-year Service Technician apprenticeship, a two-year Service Advisor apprenticeship or a two-year Parts Advisor apprenticeship. 

 

The on-the-job training is carried out under Ferrari Master Technicians with extra classroom, theory and practical training at the car company’s Training Centre in Berkshire. Successful completion will lead to a full-time role with a local Ferrari dealership. 

 

The prestige car manufacturer notes many of its employees who begin as apprentices move into more senior roles, such as workshop manager, service manager or sales executive. 

Online retailer and logistics giant Amazon, meantime, is hiring more than 1000 apprentices across the UK, including 90 degree-level apprentices. 

From building supercars and masterminding global distribution systems to IT, engineering, accountancy, retail and construction, there’s an apprenticeship to suit all aspirations.  

 

To find out which one could be perfect for you, check out the latest earn-while-you-learn opportunities on x1jobs.