NAW 2024 – Apprenticeships for all

As part of a series of blogs for National Apprenticeship Week, Anne-Marie Cutler, Talent Advisor at Van Elle, emphasises that apprenticeships are accessible to a diverse range of individuals.

This includes school leavers, those seeking a career change, and individuals looking to enhance their skills, irrespective of age.

Are there age restrictions for participating in apprenticeships?

One of the biggest misconceptions about apprenticeships is that they are only for young people who have just left school.

However, there is no age limit for apprenticeships, and anyone over the age of 16 can be eligible as long as you’re not in education (full or part-time).

This includes school leavers, graduates, those who want to change careers, and people who want enhance their skills within their current roles.

You can have a previous qualification, like a degree, and still start an apprenticeship.

According to the latest government statistics, 47% of people who start an apprenticeship are over 25 years of age.

At Van Elle, our apprenticeship program has welcomed individuals of diverse ages. All driven by a shared enthusiasm for ongoing learning and professional growth.

Pursuing a career change through apprenticeship opportunities

Apprenticeships are an excellent way to retrain or transition into a new career. They enable individuals to acquire new skills, earn a wage, and gain hands-on experience in their chosen industry.

Apprenticeships often involve mentorship from experienced professionals within their field. This mentorship provides guidance, advice, and insights that go beyond what can be learned in a classroom, accelerating the learning curve for career changers.

It can be a fantastic route into our industry where there is high demand and a shortage of specialists.

Apprenticeships for Career Development

Many people now use apprenticeships to develop new skills alongside their existing roles.

There are various types of apprenticeships in our industry, ranging from Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Piling and Business Administration and they occur over various levels:

• Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE standard and takes two years to complete.
• Level 3 is a three-year program equivalent to A-Level standard.
• Level 4 is equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree, or a Higher National Certificate (HNC). This is suitable for those who want to go into technical or management positions.
• Level 5 is equivalent to a foundation degree, or a Higher National Diploma (HND).
• Level 6 is equivalent to a Bachelor’s or master’s degree.

This shows that apprenticeships offer a wide range of opportunities for everyone, no matter their age or background.

This variety of options helps dispel myths and highlights the many paths available to different individuals.

Visit the NAW website here or for more information about a career at Van Elle, visit our careers page.