APPRENTICESHIPS: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AFTER A-LEVELS 

With A-level results being announced this week, many students across the Liverpool City Region will celebrate their achievements, providing the green light for their chosen next steps, such as university or an apprenticeship.

Inevitably, however, some will find their initial plans needing a rethink. In particular, there will be those who had hoped to take up a university place but didn’t receive the required grades. 

If you didn’t get the grades or the university place you were hoping for, apprenticeships offer a best-of-both-worlds, earn-while-you-learn choice that you should seriously consider. While apprenticeships were once viewed as a “poor relation” to university degrees, this is no longer true. Many employers are now choosing to recruit apprentices rather than graduates into fast-track job positions. And there is a growing trend of pupils who achieve strong A-level results actively choosing apprenticeships over university. 

Unlike traditional university routes, apprenticeships come with no student debt. You are employed, gaining practical, hands-on experience in your chosen field from day one. You’re getting paid, and in the meantime, there are no student tuition loans quietly accumulating in the background. 

Today’s apprenticeships offer a debt-free structured, supported work pathway. They develop valuable skills, build expert knowledge, and instill professional behaviours relevant to your chosen industry. 

Flexibility of Apprenticeships

Importantly, the apprenticeship route is highly flexible. It may be too late to get a degree apprenticeship starting this September, however there are different entry points onto the apprenticeship pathway.

For example, you could begin with a higher apprenticeship at level 4/5. After that there is the option to progress to a degree apprenticeship or a standard degree. This is because apprenticeships now carry points with UCAS. In addition, many employers are open to financially supporting university as a progression for their employees.

Stepping Stones & Promotions

Starting a level 3 apprenticeship can also be a promising option after A-levels. You can progress onto a higher apprenticeship as you develop in your career. At any level, you will be spending a minimum of 20% of your paid time developing the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are required for achieving the apprenticeship standard. 

All in all, apprenticeships offer an attractive career pathway, especially if you like the idea of combining education and getting paid work experience onto your CV. And if you want to build a lifelong career in a certain industry, then the apprenticeship route provides the stepping stones or ladder rungs to keep you developing and achieving promotions.

Apprenticeships: Spoilt for Choice

The range of apprenticeship roles available across Liverpool City Region is extensive, spanning many careers and industries. For example, you might like the idea of a job in education, working as a teaching assistant at LIPA[https://lcrbemore.co.uk/vacancy/teaching-assistant-apprenticeship-lipa-school/]. Or perhaps get experience in customer care and accounting with Green Thumb [https://lcrbemore.co.uk/vacancy/business-admin-apprenticeship/]. How about launching a career as a business analyst on a level 4 apprenticeship with manufacturer, Colloids[https://lcrbemore.co.uk/vacancy/l4-business-analyst-apprentice-colloids-limited/]?

Health and social care might appeal to you. In the Liverpool City Region, we have 10 NHS trusts and over 700 registered care providers in an industry sector that offers over 350 different job roles and career routes. From HR to nursing, business to pharmacy roles, there are many current opportunities [https://lcrbemore.co.uk/health-vacancies/] including apprenticeships open to those who have completed A-levels this year.

Parent Power

Parents or carers might ask about your prospects if you start an apprenticeship. They might ask whether you get a job at the end. The fact is that an apprenticeship is already a job! And nine out of ten apprentices get kept on in permanent employment at the end of their apprenticeship. Often this is with more responsibility and a pay rise! Better still, many employers will encourage apprentices to progress to the next level so there will be plenty of opportunities for climbing the career ladder.

Find Opportunities

There are plenty of resources available to help you find the right apprenticeship. The LCR BE MORE Apprenticeship Vacancies page [https://lcrbemore.co.uk/apprenticeship/] is a great place to start. Linked In, job sites, employers’ own sites, and social channels are all also great places to look for inspiration. There are more than 600 different apprenticeship job roles on offer.

Career Choices

Remember to consider all your options and make an informed decision that aligns with your career goals and aspirations. Ready to explore apprenticeships? Visit this section[https://lcrbemore.co.uk/STORIES/] to find out how apprenticeships are at work across the Liverpool City Region.