Apprenticeships are a great option if you’re not sure about your subjects for next year, or what you want to do when you leave school. From foundation to graduate, we’re bringing you the different types, so you can decide on the right next step for you.
Apprenticeships allow you to combine further study with learning on the job, so it’s a perfect option if you’re not entirely sure what you want to do when you leave school. They allow you to learn on the job and you won’t have to sit any exams: instead you’ll be assessed throughout the year – bonus.
Emma “hated school” but now she’s learning skills and getting paid in an apprenticeship at a car garage.
Via @BBCScotlandNews // #ScotAppWeek20 pic.twitter.com/EIBHaBzWVM
— BBC Scotland (@BBCScotland) March 3, 2020
But, with so many different options available, which one is best for you?
FOUNDATION
Foundation apprenticeships (FA) can be a stepping stone into the world of work, while still studying at school. Done in your fifth or sixth year at school, you can do a FA in place of one of your Highers.
https://twitter.com/apprentice_scot/status/1237316439721365504
Gaining valuable workplace experience, a FA is a great way of gaging whether the industry is one you want to work in when you do leave school. It can also help you decide if you want to go straight into work, further study or move onto a modern apprenticeship.
GRADUATE
If you’d like to combine an apprenticeship with further study, a graduate apprenticeship (GA) could be for you. You’ll complete your studies with a university or college part-time, while gaining the necessary industry skills through practical work. And the cherry on top? You’ll be paid for your work.
Last, but by no means least…
The icing on the cake🎂 Employer survey statistics showing the proven benefits of a #GraduateApprenticeship for their businesses❗️
➡️ #ScotAppWeek20 #TalentWithoutLimits pic.twitter.com/tIZdbUfUtl
— Apprenticeships.scot (@apprentice_scot) March 5, 2020
Your time with your employer will count towards your degree, meaning you could get qualified faster. Graduate apprentices can achieve a degree, even up to Master’s level, so this is the perfect option if you’d like to get the best of both worlds.
MODERN
Every year, over 27,000 people start a modern apprenticeship (MA) in Scotland, in a wide range of subjects and industries. Anyone over the age of 16 can train in a MA, which offers paid employment to apprentices on the scheme. The apprenticeship is an exciting way of developing existing skills, gaining new ones and kickstarting your career in an industry you’re interested in.
From accounting and digital media, to engineering and healthcare, there are over 100 different types of MA available in Scotland, so you’re sure to find something that suits your skills and career goals.
Let's have a quick recap of #ScotAppWeek20 👀
Maryam Zeitoon – doing a #ModernApprenticeship as a vehicle technician with @ArnoldClark in Glasgow🔧
➡️ #TalentWithoutLimits pic.twitter.com/0vpbpb63wZ
— Apprenticeships.scot (@apprentice_scot) March 9, 2020
Upon completing your apprenticeship, you’ll have gained the vital skills and industry experience that employers are looking for in their employees, potentially giving you a head start over other candidates.
So, what are you waiting for? No matter what you hope to do when you leave school, an apprenticeship will equip you with the skills and experience needed to get you there.
Learn more about the different apprenticeship opportunities available to you by visiting, Apprenticeships.scot
Get all the latest career advice over on Twitter and Instagram.
