Advantages and Disadvantages of an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a vocational education.

Apprenticeships are available at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree levels. All apprenticeships are considered real jobs and all apprentices earn a salary.

Apprentices must be paid at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage and many employers pay significantly more. Apprentices should work for at least 30 hours per week.

Currently there are a range of new degree apprenticeships developed by different universities in the UK. Several countries in Europe also offer degree apprenticeships.

Traditionally apprenticeships have been available for many years in Europe and were a career path for students that will finish school at the age of around 15. An apprenticeship consisted of about 5 days at work and one day at a college.

Recently apprenticeships have become very popular with many training providers offering apprenticeship training. AS the UK has introduced an apprenticeship levy many employers offer apprenticeships. However it can be very confusing for school leaver if an apprenticeship is the right career path.

There are different levels of apprenticeships. These vocational education levels are national qualifications and may therefore not be internationally understood and accredited.

Some education providers market an apprenticeship instead of going to university in order not to have to pay back a large student loan upon graduating. However there are many countries in Europe where student fees are virtually non existent or so low that they can be ignored. And recently many European universities have added degree programs in English.

Apprenticeships are important for school leavers to learn a trade that they can employ in a job.
Apprenticeships in the maritime sector include boat builder, laminator, marine electrics, marine engineer to name a few.