Apprenticeship Week 2023 - Getting an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for young people to join a business, study a qualification and develop the skills needed for a successful career – we’ve heard that hundreds of times but it continues to be true. The theme for Apprenticeship Week 2023 is ‘skills for life’ and I know as an ex-apprentice everything I experienced as part of serving my time really did give me the skills I’ve needed to progress my career. I was a Business Admin Apprentice eight years ago when there were plenty of options to choose from but since then there are even more opportunities in terms of industry, choice of scheme, qualification level and size of business where apprenticeships are a preferred choice.

With the increase in options and popularity of Apprenticeships is it even harder for young people to get through the process. Many individuals would make fantastic mechanics, electricians, teachers, business managers, engineers etc but we rely so heavily on them completing an application process, often sitting an aptitude test and performing well in an interview – all of which they will have never done before. Everyone who has done an apprenticeship will remember the pain to secure that offer letter but many really struggle with what is effectively an administration task. I have been passionate about this since I was an apprentice that’s why with the support of my employer Sellafield Ltd and BECBC we created AppFit – a programme to give young people the tools and techniques to pass that application process.

I would encourage anyone looking for, or knows someone looking for, an apprenticeship to use our free AppFit guidance on Application, Aptitude and Interview to help when applying for that Apprenticeship that will give them the skills for life. We most recently ran AppFit as a physical event in 2022 but going forward the content and support will be delivered by BECBC member All Together Cumbria.