What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are a combination of work and training. You’ll be employed by a company in your chosen field, receiving invaluable work experience. When you’re not working, you’ll spend your time training. As mandated by the UK Government, apprentices must spend a minimum of 20% of their apprenticeship at training. This training can take place at your workplace, at a training provider, or even online.
There are four different types of apprenticeships: Intermediate (equivalent to five good GCSEs), Advanced (equivalent to two A-levels), Higher (equivalent to a foundation degree) and a Degree Apprenticeship (equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree). When you finish your apprenticeship you can look either for a job or progress to the next level.
How much do apprentices get paid?
One of the biggest advantages of apprenticeships is the fact that they are paid. Combined with the fact that your employer covers the cost of your training, apprentices don’t have the same financial worries (student loans, part-time job) as university students.
The amount of money physics apprentices are paid depends on your age, and the length of time you’ve spent at your apprenticeship. If you’re aged 16-18 (or 19 and completing your first year), you’ll be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices, which is currently £4.81 an hour.
If you are aged 19 or over and have completed your first year, you’ll be able to earn the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for your age. For example, if you’re aged 18-20, you’ll earn £6.83 an hour, while those aged 23+ can expect to earn £9.50 an hour. Your employer can also choose to pay you more, depending on your skills and experience.
In many physics-related fields, such as engineering and finance, apprentices are often employed by large companies where apprenticeship programmes can be highly competitive. Often, these employers will pay higher salaries to compete with other companies to attract the best talent. Some physics apprentices may therefore even be paid up to £23,000 or more.