SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Not all teenagers want to go to stay in full-time education when they finish school.

Some want to get straight into work and earn a living - and they can do this by taking an apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme where you can earn a recognised qualification, gain practical experience and earn while you learn.

They are a fantastic way to progress young people into a career that they love and there’s lots of different types across plenty of industry sectors.

Apprentices study for their qualifications while working and learn the skills needed for the job they are doing.

A huge 90% of apprentices remain in employment once the duration of the apprenticeship has finished.

They earn a wage and are entitled to holiday pay and other benefits. The national minimum wage for an apprentice is £3.30 per hour.

Although this may sound low, don’t be put off as a lot of companies will pay more than this. Some employers will help with travel costs too.

If you want any advice on pay, you can contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368 or visit www.gov.uk

There are hundreds of options available in lots of different sectors - from engineering to journalism, customer service, marketing, veterinary nursing, catering, music production, business administration, graphic design and many more.

How to get started

They can apply for an apprenticeship if they're over 16 and live in England. The qualifications needed to get on an apprenticeship are five GCSEs including Maths and English at grades A to C or functional skills at level one.

Don't panic if your child doesn't have these qualifications; companies like Kent Training and Apprenticeships can help to improve maths and english qualifications either through joining its Work Ready Extra programme or attending one of its skills centres.

Kent Training and Apprenticeships offers 12 weeks of work experience before applying for an apprenticeship. This will help give your child the best chance of getting the job they want.

What are the different levels of apprenticeship?

There are four levels to apprenticeships and there are different entry requirements depending on the job and sector.

Intermediate: Entry level - equivalent to five GCSE passes

Advanced: Supervisor level - equivalent to two A Level passes

Higher: Manager level - can lead to NVQ Level 4 and above, or a foundation degree.

There’s also a new degree apprenticeship which can lead to a full undergraduate degree as part of the apprenticeship.

How long does it take?

It will depend on the level of apprenticeship but usually takes between one and four years to complete. All apprentices should work for at least 30 hours a week.

Training

As well as working apprentices may be required to go to college for one day a week or more to study, depending on the apprenticeship undertaken. There are usually mandatory units that must be completed and other units to complete to suit the practical side of the job.

The benefits

On the job training in the skills employers want.

Learning at a pace suited to the person doing the apprenticeship.

Entitlement to 20 days minimum holiday pay, sick and maternity pay.

Apprentices can get a NUS student discount card and get the latest offers and money-off discounts.

Avoid debt from student loans as the government covers the cost of the training and they'll be paid by their employer.

For information and advice go to their website