The social perks of being an apprentice
If you’re leaning towards applying for an apprenticeship, you probably have many questions, concerns and fears.
"Where will I live? How much will I earn? How will an apprenticeship help me get my foot on the career ladder? And, most importantly, will I miss out on the 'university experience'?"
Firstly, you need to decide what’s important to you. Not sure how? Let’s look at your options.
Will I make friends during an apprenticeship?
You definitely will. Your apprenticeship will provide you with many opportunities to get to know new people from your company and outside of it.
If it’s a social life you’re looking for, you might even be happier surrounded by people at work full-time than studying for a degree, where you may only have a few hours of lectures and seminars a week.
Companies are increasingly investing time and money into making sure their employees have fun at work. Paperwork and meetings are now balanced out with after-work drinks, fitness and well-being classes, charity fundraising events, Christmas parties and much more.
London-based PR agency PHA Media even has a staff budget for extra-curricular activities such as paint-balling, afternoon tea and theatre tickets.
Many companies hire multiple apprentices at the same time, so you would be starting your scheme together. This makes a great way to meet people your age from the get-go, so keep that in mind!
There are so many EY societies such as boxing, badminton, yoga, football, netball and basketball. I regularly attend boxing and it has definitely helped me with my mental health. It has also given me the opportunity to meet other fellow employees of EY. We also have socials to reward us for the hard work we put in. Degree Apprentice at EY
Will I miss out on the "university experience"?
To be completely transparent, there will be some things that apprentices won’t do that a university student can do. But, that doesn’t have to make or break your choices.
Take living with new people for example. Some apprenticeship programmes provide you with accommodation specifically for apprentices and many higher-level programmes pay enough for you to be able to rent a room away from home. Others require you to carry out your training at a residential training centre, where you’ll join a close-knit support network with other young people in the same position as you.
Also, even if you're not on a university campus, there are still loads of ways to meet new people. Check out local sports teams or social clubs in your area. A quick Google search should throw up a few options. Don’t be shy about signing up for one or two that catch your eye.
You might also want to look into whether any nearby universities open their student union societies to non-students. For example, the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students sometimes allows people recommended by current students to join their societies, so it’s definitely worth asking!
In Summary...
Entering the world of work lets you experience university in a completely different way, and may not be right for everyone. It’s a good idea to think carefully about what you want to get out of the next few years before making any decisions.
Just remember, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for you to make friends on an apprenticeship - and throughout your life - so don’t let the five-day week put you off.
Concentrate on what's best for your future career. And if you're still unsure, we have more details to help you decide between university and apprenticeships.
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What are my rights on work experience?
Whether you’re doing an internship, placement year or another form of work experience, it’s really important that you are clear on the terms of your employment so that you are not taken advantage of.
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