Myths About Apprenticeships

Being a historian who specialised in Ancient Studies (weird flex but okay) myths formed a large element of what I studied. How they moulded cultures, evolved through the ages and ultimately become something which still echo in our times now. I thought that jumping into the world of employment meant my only escapades into anything mythical would be searching for the elusive 8 hours sleep. This was not to be the case however, I am here to discuss and hopefully shed some light on myths about apprenticeships

*Spoiler alert no minotaur’s in this article

1- Apprenticeship applicants couldn't hack university; Not true in the slightest, people learn in different ways true enough, but that does not mean that just because someone completes an apprenticeship, they are in anyway inferior to graduates. We get applicants from all walks of life, some former grads looking at retraining, some people who decided that university did not warrant the debt and others who want to 'earn while they learn.' Want to know what they all have in common? They're all trying to grow and develop so they can be the best version of themselves.

2-Apprentices need round the clock handholding; Again, not true, in fact if you constantly hold your apprentices hand, you're going to look creepy and a bit needy, and that's not you... is it? Our apprentices need someone to be around them to ask for guidance and ask questions. That's how we all learn, but once they have been supported and their questions answered they'll go and put that into practice, so they know how to do it in the future. An apprenticeship is an investment, not just in money but in time. The more you're willing to put in the higher your interest rate and ultimate product will be (financial metaphor in there go me)

3-Apprentices don't learn anything useful; If apprenticeships weren't useful there wouldn't be thousands of employers supporting their apprentices as we speak. Ultimately that's all I need to say, the proof's in the pudding. However, I’ll go on because if I’m typing then I don’t have to look at my emails racking up. All our courses are designed to add sincere value in both short and long term, they may not seem in depth to someone qualified in that field. But for a 16-18-year-old we need to start off introducing these new ideas and then continue to push them to find their potential. All our courses have extra qualifications in their field to bolster the learning as well. See me after class for more details

4-Apprentices are only good for making brews; False, most of them make a dreadful cuppa but everyone must learn. Get your apprentices involved with your team, making bonds, helping on projects and then you will see them evolve from a shy new employee to someone who feels comfortable engaging and bringing forward new ideas. No business ever reached its full capabilities without having the insight of younger people who feel supported.

5-Apprenticeships are only for young people; Thanks to the apprenticeship Levy and the changes it brought in this myth is one I am so pleased to be able to dispel. It is incredibly important that everyone can secure further learning and development regardless of their age. An apprenticeship is a great qualification, it is not age limited. So, if you're older and looking to get a formal qualification or retrain for a new job, look at apprenticeships

There are other myths circulating around apprenticeships, but I hope this has helped in some way to make anyone who was hesitant or had preconceived notions of apprenticeships, question them slightly. If you have further questions or want to know how our digital and tech-based apprenticeships can help you then drop me a message.