Schools login area
How to get work experience in health and care roles in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Information and guidance for Apprentices, Employers and those thinking about starting an Apprenticeship.
Resources
An apprenticeship is a programme that trains you to become skilled in a particular trade. Apprenticeships provide hands-on work combined with classroom activities. They are classified as full-time jobs.
Apprenticeships are paid by your employer or college whilst you get paid a wage. You can start an apprenticeship at any age from 16 onwards and they are available at lots of different levels.
Meet Kirsty and Rebecca who work in the NHS in South Yorkshire. Find out why they chose an apprenticeship, what it's done for them and why they love their job.
There are a number of factors to consider when trying to find the right apprenticeship for you. Consider your skills, ambitions, personality, likes and interests. Undertake a careers quiz to find the career that best suits you.
Once you've decided which apprenticeship is right for you it is important to understand why you want to do this particular apprenticeship. It's likely you'll be asked this when you go through the application process. Consider how the apprenticeship aligns with your skills, experiences, and interests. Connect the apprenticeship to your future career ambitions, you want to make sure the role makes sense for where you're going in your career.
Make sure you check how long the apprenticeship will last before applying. Most often, apprenticeships will take anywhere between one and four years to complete.
You can find out where to look for the latest vacancies in South Yorkshire here. You can also view vacancies on the national site here.
Each apprenticeship programme lasts a minimum of one year and includes some kind of an assessment at the end. This could be a project, a discussion, or an observation of practice. Entry requirements to apprenticeships vary but it is useful if you have GCSE A-C (9-4) in English and Maths to start, although some employers will let you do this at the same time as your apprenticeship.
Depending on what qualifications you have already will depend on your starting point. Some employers use apprenticeships to develop their existing staff into different or more senior roles. They might also employ new staff members as apprentices and use this opportunity to train them over at least a year to work safely and competently within their organisation. If you are looking for an apprenticeship it is useful to know what area/s you wish to study. This might be based on your GCSE, A-Level, or college course or on your interests. Do some reading on careers that might interest you as this will help you search later.
Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels.
Level
Equivalent educational level
Intermediate
2
GCSE
Advanced
3
A level
Higher
4,5,6 and 7
Foundation degree and above
Degree
6 and 7
Bachelor’s or master’s degree
Some apprenticeships may also give you an additional qualification, such as a diploma.
To start an apprenticeship you have to be aged 16+, living in England and not in full-time education, or have a similar qualification to that which you want to study.
If you want to undertake an apprenticeship at level 3 or higher you must achieve level two English and level two Maths. For apprentices undertaking a level 2 apprenticeship, you'll work towards level 2 in English and Maths.
Some higher-level apprenticeships will require specific work experience. Make sure you check the person specification before applying for an apprenticeship to make sure you have the right experience for the role. If you want to gain some experience to prepare you for an apprenticeship, you might what to consider a traineeship.
If you're in care, or have experience of being in care, Amazing Apprenticeships Care Leavers Guide gives info about apprenticeships and what help is available if you're considering an apprenticeship in England, including financial assistance.
Once you've started your apprenticeship you'll be juggling a full-time job and studying towards a qualification. Find out more about the hours you'll be expected to work here.
If you are applying for an apprenticeship in the NHS, you will most likely use the NHS jobs website to make your application. This means you will put your information into an online form - you won't need to upload a CV.
Social care and organisations in the voluntary and community sector might have different ways for you to apply, like using a CV for example.
A CV is a useful way of having all your exam results and any other work or volunatry experience in one place and you can refer to it when doing your applications. When you write your supporting statement make sure you refer to the job you’ve applied for and include points on how you meet the person specification. This is your opportunity to show them that you have the skills and experience that make you suitable for the apprenticeship you’re applying for.
Getting the best out of your interview.