CAREER ADVICE FOR APPRENTICES

Focused careers advice is part and parcel of an apprenticeship. No matter how old you are, if you do an apprenticeship, you can expect access to careers advice before you enrol, throughout the course, and when you finish. And that applies whether the apprenticeship is at level 2, 3 or higher.

Every apprentice receives their training through a training or learning provider. This may be an independent training company, a college, or even a large employer with their own internal training department. As part of an apprenticeship training programme, every learning or training provider must provide their apprentices with IAG, which is short for information, advice, and guidance.

What exactly is IAG?

Information, advice, and guidance may sound like similar things, but they play very different roles in helping you make choices about your future.

• Information gives you the facts, like details about courses, jobs, or qualifications, without actually telling you what to do. 
• Advice goes a step further, offering personal recommendations or opinions based on your situation to help you decide on a specific action. 
• Guidance is a more supportive process where an advisor helps you explore your options, understand yourself better, and make your own informed decisions. 

So, to recap: information tells you what’s out there, advice suggests what might suit you, and guidancehelps you discover what’s right for you.

And what does IAG look like on an apprenticeship?

When it comes to information, as an apprentice, your learning provider will give you factual details about the apprenticeship programme, like:

• An overview of what you will be learning
• What off-the-job training you will need to do
• An explanation of your role if you’re taking up a new position
• A clear overview of everyone’s responsibilities: yours, your employer’s and your learning provider’s
• How you will be assessed at the end of your apprenticeship

In terms of advice, you’ll get one-to-one or personalised recommendations: your learning provider reviews your individual situation (your existing skills, aspirations, job role, progress) and offers tailored recommendations. This could be before enrolling, examining which apprenticeship is best to go for and at what level. It could also be towards the end of the course, looking at what you want to aim for next, such as whether you should progress to a higher level or specialise in a particular area.

Thirdly, you’ll receive guidance, which will take the form of ongoing support to help you focus on short and long-term career ambitions, understand your options, navigate workplace and training challenges, and set a career development plan. A good learning provider will provide guidance based on what direction the job market is taking locally, nationally and globally. They will also be able to guide on how to approach challenges in the workplace.

When does IAG take place?

This support begins before you start your apprenticeship (during recruitment and onboarding) with information and initial advice. This phase of IAG is in-depth, involving a detailed examination of your previous skills, experience and training, and the requirements of your job. This helps ensure that you are enrolled on the correct apprenticeship. IAG continues during your apprenticeship at key review points (such as progress reviews and milestone assessments), where advice and more intensive guidance are made available; and carries on as you approach completion and beyond, helping you plan your next steps (higher study, progression, employment) and reflecting on your career path.

Who provides the IAG?

The person who provides your IAG if you do an apprenticeship will usually be your tutor or skills coach at the learning provider, who is experienced and sometimes qualified to give careers advice. Some providers employ specialist IAG officers. During your enrolment, the in-depth examination of your previous skills and experience may be carried out by an enrolment officer. Your tutor or skills coach will provide ongoing IAG throughout the programme. Most IAG takes the form of one-to-one sessions. However, many learning providers provide apprentices with a wide range of additional IAG resources and materials, including

• CV writing workshops
• Job boards and labour market information
• Self-assessment software to work out your long-term career aims
• Interview support for internal promotions

The role of the employer

Whilst the majority of the IAG an apprentice receives will be directed and delivered by their learning provider, the employer will also play an important role. Companies that use apprenticeships as a way of developing staff often use the apprenticeship as a way of reviewing job performance and planning a career pathway through the company. In this way, employers provide information about promotion opportunities and potential areas for specialising, as well as guidance on overcoming workplace challenges. They will also be able to share industry experience with the apprentice, giving them insight that will help shape their career aspirations.