Choices, choices... You could stay on, do more school. Everyone keeps on about education being so important. But what do the study subjects have to do, exactly, with anything you might fancy ending up doing? And it won't pay you any money. Alternatively, you could get a job. At least that'd bring in some cash.

But will you regret not getting a better education later on? Will the money still seem so great in five years? And will you end up stuck in some dead-end job?

An APPRENTICESHIP Gives You The Best Of All Worlds

• Start work immediately, making money
• Study as you go, putting your training into practice in real life
• See your earnings increase as you progress
• Gain qualifications that open up a great variety of interesting career options

Great prospects and excellent rewards. You get to work with a professional team and receive regular training, whilst earning a better than average salary throughout your career. And how far you go is all down to you. The great thing about an Apprenticeship is it keeps your options open. Who knows how you will feel in a few years' time? After your Apprenticeship, you may decide to end your training there. Or you may decide to go further and obtain management qualifications. Or get a degree. Or study to become multi-skilled. Or a specialist.

Whatever, the door is never closed. And you can make these choices at any time – straight after you qualify or at any time later in your career. There are also different entrance levels as well – you can come in to an Apprenticeship with GCSEs, A Levels, or with relevant NVQs. And, by the way, some of the very finest engineers in our business are women – who choose this career for the same reason as everyone else: because it offers excellent financial rewards, long term employment and ever-changing creative and intellectual challenges.

Apprenticeship Schemes – What Are They?
Apprentices learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money, all at the same time. There are different levels of Apprenticeship available, but they all lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), Key Skills qualifications and, in most cases, a technical certificate such as a BTEC or City & Guilds.

Apprenticeships are increasingly popular and are a fantastic way to further your career plans. As an apprentice, you'll be given the very best training for a formal qualification by both trainers and employers. In return, you'll be expected to use your training and studies to do the best job possible. Many employers offer what are called Modern Apprenticeships, where the agreement you sign sets out in detail the training programme on offer. It is a great opportunity to study your chosen field at college and gain work experience whilst being employed and also being paid!

Foundation Modern Apprentice and Advanced Modern Apprentice (England and Wales)
If you take up either of these Apprenticeship schemes, you will be training towards becoming a qualified craftsperson. This can lead to a technical, supervisory or junior management role. You will be in full-time employment and receive an appropriate wage. The training programme can take up to four years to complete and requires the achievement of NVQ Level 3, Technical Certificates level 2 and 3 and all relevant Key Skills. An Advanced Apprenticeship can also provide, if you wish, a route to higher education – for example a degree or NVQs at Levels 4 and 5 – as well as a jumping off point for career progression.

Modern Apprentice Scotland
Apprenticeships in Scotland take a minimum of three years to complete, depending on the course. On completion, as an apprentice you will have achieved an SVQ level 2 and 3. It is also necessary to achieve relevant Core Skills.