Parents and Carers: Get up to Speed on all Things Apprenticeships
In this article, we’ll break down what an apprenticeship is and what types there are, how to apply for one in Greater Manchester and tips for talking to the young person in your life about them.
What is an apprenticeship, anyway?
An apprenticeship is a paid job comprised of around 80% on-the-job training and 20% classroom-based learning, typically with a college or university. A formal assessment leads to a nationally recognised qualification and there are no tuition fees. In England, you need to be over the age of 16 to do an apprenticeship. There are various levels of apprenticeships, referred to as Level 2–7. Most young people that have completed their GCSEs will be suited to a Level 3 apprenticeship.
| Apprenticeship type | Apprenticeship level | Equivalent qualification |
| Intermediate | 2 | GCSE |
| Advanced | 3 | A level/T Level |
| Higher | 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor’s or Master’s degree |
- Intermediate apprenticeships are level 2 qualifications, equivalent to GCSEs.
- Advanced apprenticeships are level 3 qualifications, equivalent to A levels or T Levels.
- Higher apprenticeships are available at levels 4, 5, 6 and 7, equivalent to a Foundation degree and above.
- Degree apprenticeships are available at levels 6 and 7, equivalent to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
Some apprenticeships may require previous qualifications such as English or Maths GCSE, or additional training during the apprenticeship to ensure the right level of English and Maths.
Aren’t apprenticeships just for manual jobs?
Historically, apprenticeships were an industry-focused path to address skills shortages in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and engineering. Over the past 20 years, however, apprenticeships have been modernised and diversified. Nowadays, apprenticeships are available across a broad range of sectors, from legal, to creative design, and animal care.
How do I know if an apprenticeship is right for the young person in my life?
Starting to understand how the young person in your life feels about their current ways of learning and their career aspirations will help you to get a clearer idea of which route might suit them best: the more academic A Level route, apprenticeships, or something else.
Ask the young person in your life:
- Do you enjoy classroom learning? If so, apprentices only spend 20% of their time in the classroom, so they might prefer T Levels or A Levels.
- How do you find balancing study with other responsibilities? They might not have a direct comparison of working and studying, like an apprenticeship, but perhaps they have responsibilities at school or chores at home. If they feel comfortable managing their time or are keen to develop this skill, an apprenticeship could be a good fit.
- Do you know what career you’d like? Or is there a specific sector you’d like to work in? If they have a clear idea of the type of job they’d like, such as a data analyst, early careers practitioner or plumber, or they know they’d like to work in a certain sector, apprenticeships are an excellent choice. They provide specific on-the-job training and are often a quicker route into paid work than other pathways.
How can I explore apprenticeship opportunities in Greater Manchester?
You’ve come to the right place! From inspiration to application, GMACS is a digital service providing young people and their parents and carers with knowledge, advice and real technical education opportunities in Greater Manchester.
If the young person in your life has a good idea about what they want to do next, you can skip straight to searching and applying for apprenticeships on GMACS, where you can filter by sector and location.
If you’re still at the exploration stage, Beeline can help. This digital tool allows you to explore different jobs in Greater Manchester, the courses and qualifications needed to do it, how much demand there is for the role and what it pays.
More opportunities than ever before
Here in Greater Manchester, we’re on a mission to help all our young people fulfil their potential by providing them with a prestigious technical education route. The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate, or MBacc, will allow young people to access more technical qualifications, such as apprenticeships and T Levels, than ever before.
As a parent or carer, navigating this next stage with the young person in your life can be daunting, but GMACS aims to equip you with the knowledge, advice, and opportunities to best support them. We want to know what topics you want to know more about — whether it’s choosing GCSE options or understanding T Levels. Let us know by clicking the button below to get in touch.
