For this, my second guest blog article for SEE during National Apprenticeships Week 2022,  I thought it would be beneficial to look at myth-busting facts about apprenticeships…

Apprenticeships are a great option for anyone new to working life  and for upskilling existing staff. I have stayed in touch with many of my apprentices and have seen some wonderful success stories of the years. Our very own groundsperson, Ben Garraway, at BCA took the Level 2 Horticulture Groundsperson course and then the Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with us and at the ripe old age of 24 is now Head of Grounds managing a team of six!

Did you know?

Jamie Oliver was an apprentice, along with Karen Millen (fashion).

Lord Bamford, Head of JCB, and John Cauldwell, who started Phones4u were both engineering apprentices.

Myths busted!

Myth: Apprenticeships are only for young people aged 16-18.

Myth Buster: There is no upper age limit for becoming an apprentice – anyone aged 16 or over can enrol onto an apprenticeship programme.

Myth: Apprenticeships are only for new employees to a business and aren’t available to existing staff. 

Myth Buster: This is not the case; of course new apprentice employees are always an option but Apprenticeship funding can also be used to train up skill existing staff such as with our Level 3 Landscape Technician qualification which is for people who work with and support landscape professionals in designing, planning and managing spaces in both natural and built environments. A level 3 Apprenticeship is a great way to move forward in your career.

Myth: Apprenticeships are only for manual sectors.

Myth Buster: There are hundreds of different apprenticeships to choose from ranging from land based areas such as Horticulture, Arboriculture and Agriculture, to construction trades such as Plumbing, Carpentry and Brick-laying but not forgetting other occupations such as Accounting, Business Administration, Management, Dental, Nursing and Hairdressing.

Myth: Apprenticeships don’t offer the same job opportunities as completing a degree

Myth Buster: Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 up to Level 7 which is Master’s Degree level. Apprenticeships are also just as valuable as equivalent level qualifications in accessing university courses but also progressing onto higher level apprenticeships. 

Myth: Apprenticeships are for those who are less academic and for people who don’t do very well at school

Myth Buster: This is most definitely not the case. As mentioned in the last myth buster, apprenticeships range from Level 2 up to Level 7 (Master’s Degree level). They are not an ‘easier’ option, they are an alternative route for those seeking to learn whilst earning money and gaining valuable experience along the way.

Myth: Apprenticeships do not lead to full time jobs.

Myth Buster: In fact, more than 90% of apprentices stay in employment after their course ends, with at least 70% remaining with the same employer. 

Myth: Companies don’t recruit apprentices

Myth Buster: Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy by the government more and more companies are recruiting apprentices which is helping to reduce the skills gap and utilise that important levy! On average 250k apprentices are recruited each year in the UK.

Myth: Apprenticeships are only for new employees to a business and aren’t available to existing staff.

Myth buster: This is not the case; of course new apprentice employees are always an option but Apprenticeship funding can also be used to train up skill existing staff such as with our Level 3 Landscape Technician qualification which is for people who work with and support landscape professionals in designing, planning and managing spaces in both natural and built environments. A level 3 Apprenticeship is a great way to move forward in your career.

Myth: Apprenticeships are only for manual sectors.

Myth Buster: There are hundreds of different apprenticeships to choose from ranging from land based areas such as Horticulture, Arboriculture and Agriculture, to construction trades such as Plumbing, Carpentry and Brick-laying but not forgetting other occupations such as Accounting, Business Administration, Management, Dental, Nursing and Hairdressing.

Myth: Apprenticeships don’t offer the same job opportunities as completing a degree

Myth Buster: Apprenticeships are available from Level 2 up to Level 7 which is Master’s Degree level. Apprenticeships are also just as valuable as equivalent level qualifications in accessing university courses but also progressing onto higher level apprenticeships. 

Myth: Apprenticeships are for those who are less academic and for people who don’t do very well at school

Myth Buster: This is most definitely not the case. As mentioned in the last myth buster, apprenticeships range from Level 2 up to Level 7 (Master’s Degree level). They are not an ‘easier’ option, they are an alternative route for those seeking to learn whilst earning money and gaining valuable experience along the way.

Myth: Apprenticeships do not lead to full time jobs.

Myth Buster: In fact, more than 90% of apprentices stay in employment after their course ends, with at least 70% remaining with the same employer. 

Myth: Companies don’t recruit apprentices

Myth Buster: Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy by the government more and more companies are recruiting apprentices which is helping to reduce the skills gap and utilise that important levy! On average 250k apprentices are recruited each year in the UK.

Please feel free to contact me on erobinson@bca.ac.uk if I can assist you with your apprenticeships or training needs. 

If you would like to find out more about our apprenticeships at BCA, please email us on apprenticeships@bca.ac.uk