Apprenticeships - Are There Any Real Ones?

NewCustomerOnly

Apprenticeships for Sixteen year olds don't seem to exist in our area - with real firms anyway. We typed in our local town and got fencing in dover (400 miles) or vehicle technician in cardiff (similar distance.) Then we tried the main site and then tried Connexions whose site was down! The whole apprenticeship provision thing is a mess or are we missing something? We were told not to go in to Jobcentre as 'everything is online' nowadays!! Advice on where to try next please (young lad,17,engineering/land management/technician/mechanical) Constructive kind helpful posts only please. Thanks in advance to all the supportive moneysavers.

Tigsteroonie

Not sure where you are geographically or whether any of the 'delivery units' taking apprentices are nearby, but has he considered Network Rail? http://www.networkrail.co.uk/2012-apprenticeship-scheme.aspx

aliasojo

Maybe consider making a list of all businesses in the area that might fall within the type of field you're considering and phone them directly?

Son got an Apprenticeship with a local firm who have their own criteria for Apprentice selection and don't go near the Job Centre or advertise elsewhere etc. He wouldn't have known about it if it hadn't have been for word of mouth.

NewCustomerOnly

Thanks both - we're in the west country btw (cheapest weekly bus ticket to nearest city £25 or £48)

saintjammyswine

Most Connexions services are now closed down due to budget cuts, only a few local authorities are still funding them (I guess yours isnt!). Try the following
National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) online
Your local Further Education (FE) College will have an apprenticeship delivery department such as employer engagement or something similar. They will have contact with hundreds of companies and may even have current, relevant vacancies. If not, they will have student advisors who can offer support & advice on what to do, where to go etc. The West Country, depending on where you are is a difficult area because it is largely rural although this does mean that apprenticeships are largely land based (agriculture etc.) or specialist areas.

davidh025c

Helicopter companies in Yeovil take on apprentices, I'm sure you will prob know who I mean being in the SW

NewCustomerOnly

Thanks - that's a good idea. Better than the out of date leaflets we were given today! Wish there was a proper joined-up programme linking all apprenticeships together - on one government website.

Rachel_123

I'm presuming you've tried this website?

https://apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk/navms/Forms/Candidate/Apprenticeships.aspx

zenmaster

I hear Alan Sugar's looking .

I worked for BAE in Yeovil and they had lots of apprentices whilst I was there. They are going through cutbacks at the moment so it may not be so rosy.

I'm currently working for Siemens and they too offer an apprenticeship scheme. I see a lot of young people around the site who, I assume are apprentices, but we have none in my department. They also have a special scheme for training in finance for youngsters which takes them through their accountancy qualifications.

I expect many of the large engineering companies have similar schemes and there are a number of them in Somerset - BAE, Thales, Invensys.

If you are in Devon or Cornwall then I can't think of much down that way. The dockyard used to take apprentices years ago but I've no idea whether they still do, especially with the massive cutbacks about to take effect.

Good luck to your son anyway.

zenmaster

NewCustomerOnly wrote: »

Thanks - that's a good idea. Better than the out of date leaflets we were given today! Wish there was a proper joined-up programme linking all apprenticeships together - on one government website.

Now, that's not a bad idea!

I have a friend (not seen him for sometime though) who produced software for schools to match up companies and students on work placements.

Perhaps I should have a chat with him over a few beers :beer:.

saintjammyswine

zenmaster wrote: »

Now, that's not a bad idea!

I have a friend (not seen him for sometime though) who produced software for schools to match up companies and students on work placements.

Perhaps I should have a chat with him over a few beers :beer:.

There is already called the National Apprenticeship Service. www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Been around for quite a while, employers & providers (e.g. colleges) add vacancies, candidates add their profile, search & apply for vacancies.