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In celebration of Apprentice Week 2023, I am writing this article on the advantages and disadvantages of being an apprentice. I will also provide the tips that I wish someone had given me when I first became an apprentice, nearly six years ago. If you are looking to become an apprentice, I hope that this article helps. The Oxford Dictionary definition of an apprentice is ‘a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages’, which I will break down in this article.

Pros of apprenticeships – in addition to the benefits that are generally known, like being paid while you study, having no debt from student loans, learning "hands-on" and gaining experience, here are a few other benefits that you may not be aware of:

• Life experiences – I believe that choosing to become an apprentice was one of the best choices I ever made. With no prior professional experience, I began my first apprenticeship when I was 18 years old. You will gain experience and wisdom in decision-making by being exposed to real-world work or projects, something you can’t always get in the classroom.
• Communication Skills – as apprentices, we are expected to communicate with all different kinds of professionals. Soon after my apprenticeship began, I became aware of an increase in my vocabulary. Over messages, I can still remember my friends telling me I sound "so fancy."
• Variety of apprenticeships on offer – A common misconception about apprenticeships is that they are primarily for trades industries, which is untrue (According to a Mumsnet parent company survey, 35% of parents still think of apprenticeships as being for manual labour jobs like carpentry and plumbing, and 45% are unaware they can be up to the degree level). Over 170 industries, there are roughly 1,500 different job roles, according to the National Apprenticeship Services.
• Areas of progression – employers are frequently eager to hire apprentices because they can receive government funding for their educational costs and because it is typically less expensive to train current employees than to hire new, experienced individuals. Through apprenticeships, the right skills and professional experience are developed for that particular career. At the right company, there’s scope to segue from Apprentice to Professional without the rush of post-graduation job hunting.
• Self-pride in real work – How many times have you sat in class and wondered, "When am I going to use this in my career?" We've all done this before (probably when learning some form of algebra), but in an apprenticeship, the majority of what you learn in school is reinforced and applicable to the workplace.

Cons of apprenticeship – Knowing the disadvantages of apprenticeships, in my opinion, is crucial. But I want to correct some of these problems for apprenticeships in the final section:

• Work/study balance – I find it difficult to balance the additional work that is required outside of university plus full-time work, especially for the advanced level apprenticeships where university topics become more technical.
• Lack of information from the start – It's important to know what you are getting into before starting an apprenticeship because it's a big decision. I discovered during my first and second apprenticeships that there was a lot of information I wish I had known before considering it, such as the fact that travel to and from work is not reimbursed and that professional examinations are required immediately following academic exams.
• ‘Pigeonholing’ – Because we are frequently the lowest-paid employees in the organisation, it is simple for apprentices to end up doing "the work that no one wants to do." During my first two years of civil engineering apprenticeship, I often felt like I was "pigeonholed," given loads of drawing markups but rarely getting to participate in the design choices made for the drawings.
• Adjusting to life not similar your peers – Getting used to my peers' extended study breaks from full-time university in contrast to the short vacations you get when working full-time in an apprenticeship proved to be difficult for me during my first couple of years.

"I joined Markides Associates in 2019 as a level 3 apprentice after finishing sixth form at South Bank University Academy. By joining a smaller company, I was able to gain a vast amount of experience as there were more projects for me to get involved with, supporting the transport planners by creating the CAD drawings they needed. As the team is quite small, I can interact with the more senior members of staff, learning from them. By having direct interactions, I think has helped expedite my growth as a young technician and has opened up more opportunities to get involved with larger projects." - Lewis Bryan, CAD Technician

If I did my apprenticeship again, what would I do differently:

• University Notes – It took me five years as an apprentice before I understood this. This is relevant to any educational path you choose, but apprenticeships require special attention. Making brief notes will be extremely helpful for you because, in some cases, a topic in Year 3 is a continuation of one you studied in Year 1. Otherwise, you risk becoming overwhelmed by the end of the year.
• Workplace Notes – There will unavoidably be projects as you advance in your career that are similar to those you completed in prior years. Maintaining an excel spreadsheet with screenshots of standards and design guidelines was very beneficial to me as a consulting engineer. It will be simpler for you to refer to these items later if you organise and file them clearly. Additionally, you can use this logged information as proof in your CPD!

•  Keep notes online – I would strongly advise using online note-taking tools that allow for sharing and cloud storage. Instead of ten notebooks, this will make all of your notes easily accessible and more portable. My co-worker makes use of an E-Ink notebook called a reMarkable. Google Drive and a cheap Bluetooth folding keyboard toggled to your phone are also amazingly useful and easier than lugging a laptop everywhere!
• Asking for training – Your employers want you to advance in your career. To become a better professional, it is crucial that you request the necessary training from your employer. Your employer will see from this that you are motivated and proactive about developing your skills. This is also in accordance with the majority of institutional codes of conduct (ICE, IStructE, RTPI, CIHT, etc.) for the advancement of professional knowledge.
• Ask for information – You should obtain as much information as you can from your employer before beginning as an apprentice. You'll have a better understanding of what you're getting into if you inquire about the following information:

o  What travel will I be doing if I’m required to go to site?

o  Are there opportunities to move around the company?

o  Will I be able to go on external training courses?

o  Do I get study leave?

o  Will I see development in pay through the apprenticeship?

o  Am I required to work at your company for a given period after my apprenticeship finishes?

o  Can I go onto higher level apprenticeships within your company?

"I started my working my career working as a Business Administration Apprentice back in 2015. I immediately enjoyed the concept of an apprenticeship - who doesn’t want to get paid to learn? Completing an apprenticeship allowed me to join a company, gain real life experience and also learn at the same time. Without signing up to my first apprenticeship, I would not be where I am today. It opened so many doors for me. In this case the door was to become an engineer! So far, I have completed 2 apprenticeships and at Markides Associates I am on my 3rd, which is a degree in Civil Engineering at LSBU. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe I am in a situation where I have nearly 8 years’ experience, no debt, and nearly a degree under my belt. It is important for you to do your own research on apprenticeships as most schools and sixth forms only sell the idea of university, so many individuals may not know the full benefits that an apprenticeship can bring to you!" "

One last piece of advice - consider the type of place that you want to join – different companies will provide different experiences for apprentices.

Joining a larger company:

1. Can offer lots of experience in different types of projects.
2. Can support more time off for study leave as resources are greater.
3. Greater possibility to move around within the company to different teams.
4. ‘Pigeonholing’ can more likely occur at a larger company.
5. Salaries can be reduced as large companies typically pay levy to the government.
6. Less space to think creatively.

Joining a smaller company:

1. Salary may be more as smaller companies typically don’t pay levy.
2. Can be exposed to more aspects of a project (finances, approvals, design etc.)
3. Social side of smaller companies are typically better.
4. Typically, easier to see decisions made from the top of the company.
5. Can be limited in the type of work exposed to.
6. There is less job security at a smaller company.

In summary, I think apprenticeship are a brilliant alternative to accessing a progressive career. The wide range of apprenticeships allow individuals to excel in the workplace, while studying a qualification that is relevant to the job. Becoming an apprentice is a big decision to make and it is important to read up on information on what you think you want to do. I have listed below some useful links regarding apprenticeship opportunities and information:

·       https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships (UCAS - Apprenticeships)

·       https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship (GOV UK - Find an apprenticeship)

·       https://www.cxk.org/resources/apprenticeships-and-job-opportunities-useful-websites/ (CXK – Useful Apprenticeship Links)

·       https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices (Apprenticeships)

·       https://apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/ (The Apprenticeship Guide)