Skip to content

Last month (December 24) 421 parent/carers & young people accessed our service which led to a total of 2,026 emails, contact forms, telephone calls & meetings. Contact us if you need our advice and support.  

An apprenticeship is a real job with training, so you can earn a wage while you learn and become fully trained in your chosen occupation by the end of the apprenticeship. It allows you to improve your skills and progress in your career.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 who is not in education.  You can apply for an apprenticeship while you are still at school but will need to be over 16 by the end of the summer holidays to start an apprenticeship.

You will work alongside experienced staff to learn skills to do the job.  You will earn a wage and get holiday pay.  You will get time for study related to the job (usually one day a week) and you will finish with a recognised qualification.

The minimum length of each apprenticeship is based on your working 30 hours a week or more, including their training.  However, if you have a disability you could have a part-time apprenticeship agreed.  A part-time apprenticeship must be agreed by the apprentice, the employer and the training provider.

Usually English and maths qualifications need to be achieved to do an apprenticeship.  For example, a level two intermediate apprenticeship usually needs level one functional skills English and maths and they will take assessments at level two. 

 

 

Apprenticeships Hub at Essex County Council
Hear how the Essex County Council Apprenticeship Hub can help you land a great apprenticeship
Making Reasonable Ajustments

If you have any special educational needs, the employer and training provider must make reasonable adjustments to make sure you are not disadvantaged when doing your job or training, such as:-

  • providing equipment to help you do your work
  • give you more time to do your work
  • arrange tasks in a different way
  • Making physical changes to your workplace, for example installing a ramp for wheelchair access
  • Flexible work patterns
  • providing a quite working space
  • additional mentoring or management support
  • providing material in Braille, easy read or large print formats
Access To Work

Access to work is a government scheme that offers grants to help pay for any reasonable adjustments you may need to work or get to work.

This includes apprentices.

Scope provide information on how to apply  Access to Work grant scheme | Disability charity Scope UK

Disabled Apprentice Network

Support is also available through the Disabled Apprentice Network (DAN)

DAN is free to join and connects current and previous apprentices so they can share experiences

Find out more on Disability Rights UK

Lauren shares her experiences since she began her apprenticeship.
Business Admin Apprenticeship, Lauren
How to Find an Apprenticeship: A Step-By-Step Guide for CKX

Also in this section:

University Support

Information on applying and moving to University, help and support and disabled students allowance

Preparing for Adulthood & Tra

Information on independence, further education, training and employment opportunities