Want to earn while you learn? Why an apprenticeship in Durham could be the best next step for you
Are you leaving school and deciding on your future career path? Are you considering your options for a degree or higher education? Or are you looking for the next step in your career path? An apprenticeship could be the right choice for you if any of these fit your current decisions!
An apprenticeship is a real job with training so you can earn while you learn, and gain nationally recognised qualifications along the way.
Apprenticeships normally take one to four years to complete, depending on the level, and are available across a wide range of different sectors and industries. They are designed with employers and provide a structured standard that takes you through the skills you need to do a job well.
Bethany’s story
Bethany O’Neil is studying Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker at New College Durham and joined County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in September as a Healthcare Assistant Apprentice.
Since starting in the role, she has received extremely positive feedback. Rebekah Parker, Pre-Assessment Manager told us just how well Bethany is progressing and shows just how much experience she is gaining from her role: “She has settled in well and his fitted into the team. She is always punctual and wears her uniform with pride. Bethany has a lovely manner with the patients and makes them feel at ease. Many of them have complex underlying medical conditions which can make them challenging, but she just knuckles down and gets on with the job in hand. The patients have commented on how pleasant and calm she is with them. She really puts them at ease.
“Bethany has grasped the technique of ECG recording and base-line observations, height and weight recording and the importance of this. Beth has started performing venepuncture and we hope in the next week or so that she can complete the training and the W.A.S.P assessment. Beth has had the opportunity to go into the assessment room with the qualified nurses to see what the assessment process is like.
“Recently Beth was left to manage the unit on her own, when another healthcare assistant became unwell. She behaved very professionally and continued until the end of her shift. The team were very impressed on how she managed this and reported back to me with how well she had done. We put an excellence award in for this.
“I look forward to seeing how Beth develops in the department and am confident that she will succeed in this role and subsequent roles that she takes on.”
Study up to degree level
With an apprenticeship you can even get a degree, all while gaining on-the-ground experience and making money. You get paid a salary for working in a real job with an employer; your employer pays your tuition fees and, as you are earning a wage, you can wave goodbye to student loans.
Higher apprenticeships combine on the job training with time spent studying towards a degree level qualification. You will gain vital work experience and get to apply your learning to real world projects in the workplace.
Laura Taylor completed a Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Professional Accounting/Tax Technician at New College Durham. She said: “I feel my apprenticeship has given me the edge when applying for higher positions as I have real life working-experience.”
Sharon Bennett, Assistant Principal at New College Durham said: “Higher apprenticeships are becoming more and more popular every year. They are such a versatile qualification. As well as being a great way to kickstart a career, they are also ideal for those who are looking for a career change or wanting to upskill in their current role. If you are already employed in your chosen field, we can work with you and your employer to upskill you through an apprenticeship.”
To find out more about apprenticeships, visit the website here
If you would be interested in hiring an apprentice for your business, NCD can help. Visit our apprenticeships section here.