Why Choose an Apprenticeship?

Leaving school is a big moment. For the first time, you get to make an important choice about your future.

You might be thinking about college or university. You may want to find a job and start earning money. Perhaps you know what career you want, or you might still be working it out.

College and university can be good choices, but they are not the only ways to build a successful career. If you want to earn money, gain a qualification and learn practical skills, an apprenticeship could be the right choice for you.

At Optimum Skills, we help people across the North of England take their first steps into work. Our apprenticeships are available to people aged 16 and over who are no longer in full-time education.

An apprenticeship is a real, paid job that includes training.

You will spend most of your time working alongside experienced people. They will help you learn the skills needed for your chosen career. You will also complete lessons and work towards a recognised qualification.

Depending on the programme, your training may take place in your workplace, at one of our training Hubs or through a mix of both.

One of the biggest benefits of an apprenticeship is that you get paid.

Instead of studying full-time before starting your career, you can begin working and earning a wage straight away. As your skills and experience grow, you may also have the chance to earn more.

University students may need to pay tuition fees and borrow money to cover their living costs. With an apprenticeship, you are employed and paid while completing your qualification.

Earning a regular wage can help you become more independent. It is also a chance to learn important life skills, such as budgeting and saving money.

Many employers look for people who already have workplace experience. This can make it difficult to get your first job after leaving school, college or university.

An apprenticeship gives you that experience from day one.

You will learn how to complete real tasks, manage your time and work as part of a team. You will also build confidence and learn how to communicate with colleagues, customers and managers.

By the time you finish, you will have a qualification and valuable work experience. You will have real examples of your skills to include on your CV and discuss during job interviews.

Apprenticeships are not limited to one type of job. Optimum Skills delivers programmes across construction, business, customer service, marketing, warehousing and manufacturing.

Our current apprenticeships include:

Construction apprenticeships

If you enjoy practical work and want to see the results of what you build, a construction apprenticeship could be a great choice.

Optimum Skills offers Level 2 apprenticeships in:

• Bricklaying
• Joinery
• Roofing
• Groundworks
• Plumbing

You will gain hands-on experience with an employer while learning the skills and knowledge needed for your trade. Our specialist tutors provide off-the-job training through our Construction Academy.

Business, Customer Service and Recruitment Apprenticeships

If you are organised, enjoy working with people or want to understand how businesses find and support the right staff, you could choose:

• Customer Service
• Business Administration
• Business Analyst
• Recruitment

A Customer Service apprentice learns how to support customers face-to-face, over the telephone and through digital or written messages.

Business Administration apprentices work with different teams and help with the daily running of an organisation. Business Analyst apprentices study problems and find ways to improve a company’s systems and working methods.

A Recruitment apprentice helps employers find the right people for their vacancies. You could learn how to write job adverts, speak with candidates, arrange interviews and support people through the hiring process. This is a good choice if you are confident, organised and enjoy helping people find new opportunities.

Marketing and content apprenticeships

Creative people can also build their careers through an apprenticeship.

Optimum Skills offers:

• Content Creator Level 3
• Multi-Channel Marketer Level 3

As a Content Creator apprentice, you could develop written, visual and audio content for a business. A Multi-Channel Marketer apprentice helps to plan and deliver marketing across different channels to promote products or services.

These programmes can help you develop useful skills for careers in marketing, social media, communications and content production.

Manufacturing and warehouse apprenticeships

We also deliver apprenticeships in:

• Supply Chain Warehouse Operative
• Lean Manufacturing Operative

An Adult Care Worker supports vulnerable adults and helps them live as safely and independently as possible.

Warehouse apprentices learn how to move, package and manage stock. Lean Manufacturing apprentices learn how to complete manufacturing tasks safely and efficiently while working with different products.

Some people learn best in a classroom. Others find it easier to learn by watching, practising and completing real tasks.

An apprenticeship combines both types of learning.

You will learn from people with experience in your industry and receive support from your Optimum Skills tutor. Your off-the-job training takes place during your normal working hours, so you have time to develop new knowledge, skills and workplace behaviours.

You will not be expected to know everything when you begin. An apprenticeship is designed to help you learn and improve.

Starting work can feel frightening, especially if it is your first job.

During your apprenticeship, you will have support from your employer from us as your training provider. As you complete new tasks and learn from your experiences, your confidence can grow.

You will also meet people working in your chosen industry. These professional connections may help you find new opportunities and develop your career in the future.

Many businesses hire apprentices because they want to train new people and develop their future workforce.

After completing your apprenticeship, your employer may offer you a permanent role. You could also apply for a higher-level apprenticeship, work towards another qualification or use your experience to find a new job.

Whatever you decide, you will finish with practical skills, work experience and a recognised qualification.

An apprenticeship could be a good choice if you:

• Want to start earning money
• Prefer practical learning
• Are ready to enter the workplace
• Want to gain a recognised qualification
• Would like support while starting your career
• Want real experience to add to your CV

You do not have to choose between getting an education and starting work. An apprenticeship lets you do both.

Our aim is to help you optimise your potential. Whether you want to build homes, support customers, create digital content, or help a business succeed, we can help you find a route that suits your goals.

Explore our apprenticeship qualifications or view our current apprenticeship vacancies to take your next step.

You can also contact us by calling 01325 311832 or emailing info@optimumskills.co.uk.