How this report is structured

The quiz has been designed to help you start to reflect on whether you think you might be suited to an Engineering Apprenticeship.

The quiz has been designed by talking to current engineering apprentices to understand what their interests are and what drives them. The way you have answered the quiz has then been compared to these apprentices.

As well as feedback on your responses to the quiz, we have added a number of video-links to apprentices talking about their experiences as an apprentice. We hope you find these useful in painting a picture for you of what being an apprentice might be like for you.

As you haven't been formally assessed, you should note that we can't say for sure whether or not you'd be well-suited to an Engineering Apprenticeship. However, we hope that by reflecting on the contents of the report, and hearing what apprentices have to say, you'll be in a better position to explore this further. We understand that an Engineering Apprenticeship is not for everyone and so its important that you think long and hard about whether or not it's for you.

Comparing your answers with most apprentices

Most engineering apprentices:

• Want to know how something works
• Get excited about solving a problem or learning something new
• Want to see something through to the end
• Want to know that what they're doing is part of something bigger
• Want to try and make something better

The way that you responded to the quiz was different in a number of areas. However, this is a great place to start reflecting on some of these differences by working through the detail which follows. Although you might find the report relatively long, we would encourage you to spend time working through each section to get the most out of it.

Where you were less aligned with apprentices was when you disagreed with the following statement(s):

• If I can, I prefer to learn how something works by taking it apart and looking at it rather than being told how it works
• When faced with a problem I'm excited by the idea of solving it
• I get a buzz from learning how something works
• I enjoy being given full responsibility for getting something done
• Once I start something, I want to see it through to the end even if it's boring
• People would say I'm naturally curious
• People say I like a challenge
• I take responsibility for things when they go wrong
• I'm the type of person that challenges others' point of view
• I'm excited by the thought that the work I do might be part of something bigger
• I often think about how I could do things better

To hear why others chose to do an Engineering Apprenticeship click here.

What sparks your interest academically?

You may remember that you were also presented with a series of pictures and diagrams to convey to you the sorts of information and technology you're likely to be dealing with during the course of an Engineering Apprenticeships. Engineering, for example, requires a fundamental understanding of maths.

For the apprentices we talked to, these pictures and diagrams evoke feelings of interest and curiosity.

When shown these pictures and diagrams, you felt the following, which may have varied from image to image:

Completing an Engineering Apprenticeship can be challenging at times. Click here to hear apprentices talking about some of the challenges they have experienced.

The appeal of Engineering Apprenticeships

Not surprisingly, there are a number of reasons why people find Engineering Apprenticeships attractive.

Interestingly in the quiz, your responses did not match any reasons that apprentices commonly said attracted them to being an apprentice engineer.

Apprentices we've talked to highlighted the following in particular as being attractive:

• Doing something they are passionate about
• The opportunity to earn money whilst they're learning
• Gaining qualifications
• The opportunity for a long-term career in engineering

We suggest you reflect on the extent to what you find attractive is what apprentices generally find attractive. This will help ensure that you have a realistic view of what Engineering Apprenticeships are really like. Click here to find out more about the sorts of qualifications you can work towards.

Working as part of a team

Doing an Engineering Apprenticeship involves working with other people and being part of a team. Its about supporting and being supported by those you work with. Click here to hear apprentices talk about being part of a team and here to hear apprentices talking about the sorts of guidance and support they have available to them.

How an Engineering Apprenticeship is different from school, college or university

Going to university suits some people but its not right for everybody. Most of the apprentices we talked to mentioned that its an option that's not really right for them now. Most are also keen to start a career rather than staying in education for as long as possible. Click here to hear apprentices talking about how Engineering Apprenticeships are different to being at school, college or university.

Developing an interest in engineering

We described a number of scenarios to you that take place outside of the workplace to understand how you might approach them. What follows is a list of the scenarios and the corresponding courses of action you said you would take.

• Malfunctioning gadget - Unspecified
• Missing flat-pack instructions - Unspecified
• Electric garden pump making noises - Unspecified

We suggest that you think about what course of action you took and the extent to which you think this demonstrates how you are developing an interest in engineering. This reflection might extend to the sorts of things you choose to do in your spare time.

Click here to hear what apprentices have to say about what they do in their spare time or when they were younger to help gauge how like-minded you are.

Making an informed choice

You indicated that no one in particular has influenced you when thinking about an Engineering Apprenticeship.

We encourage you to talk to a range of people and perhaps show them a copy of this report. Suggestions for people you could talk to include members of your family, family friends, teachers, lecturers, careers advisors, friends and apprentices you may know.

What should I do next?

Click here to go to the Next Steps tab. You may also want to be sent a copy of your report. Please provide your E-mail address below and we'll send you a copy.

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• What is an Apprenticeship?

  An Apprenticeship is an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience. As an apprentice you would be employed whilst studying for a qualification. This would enable you to earn as you learn, whilst also gaining practical skills from the workplace.

• Who can apply to be an apprentice?

  Apprenticeships are open to all age groups from 16 and above, whether you are just leaving school, have been working for a number of years, or are seeking to start a new career. Different Apprenticeships have different entry requirements so it's best to check this with each respective organisation you are interested in applying to.

• Why might I choose to do an Apprenticeship over trying to get a 'regular' job?

  The structure of an Apprenticeship provides many benefits. As well as learning practical skills whilst studying for a relevant qualification, you will benefit from the support provided throughout your programme. Your employer or training provider will make sure you have support. Their job is to ensure that your training fits your personal requirements, offers the skills needed for the job, and satisfies national standards.

• Would I get paid whist being an apprentice?

  Yes, you are paid. The rate of pay varies from employer to employer so it is important that this is checked with individual organisations that you may be talking to.

• How long does an Engineering Apprenticeship last?

  Apprenticeships typically take between one and four years to complete, depending on the type of framework. There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship as they vary widely in content and size. The length of time taken will depend on the ability of the individual apprentice and the employer's requirements. It's worth checking with individual organisations to see what they offer.

• What are the main benefits of doing an Engineering Apprenticeship?

  There are lots of benefits to doing an Engineering Apprenticeship. You can earn while you learn, and learn in a way that is best suited to you through hands-on experience on the job. The videos available within this tool will help you to understand some of the benefits that current apprentices have experienced. Listening to other apprentices will help you to make an informed choice when starting your journey in deciding whether an Engineering Apprenticeship is right for you.

• What qualifications do Engineering Apprenticeships give you?

  For Engineering Apprenticeships specifically, these are carefully crafted to provide a blend of technical expertise & personal development. On an advanced Apprenticeship you will usually spend an initial period at college learning the basics of engineering. You will then start to put your skills into practice and develop even more in your workplace environment, whilst still attending day/block release at college. By the end of these schemes you would usually complete a National Certificate and gain vocational qualifications in your chosen trade.

  Once the Apprenticeship has finished there may be an opportunity to carry on studying for additional Further or Higher Education qualifications.

• What sorts of wider employability skills will I learn during an Apprenticeship?

  For Apprenticeships in general, you will learn functional skills to enhance your employability. These skills include:

  • Application of numbers
  • Using information technology
  • Communicating effectively
  • Working with others
  • Problem-solving
  • Managing your own learning
  • Self-discipline and life skills

• As an engineering apprentice, how much time do you spend at college?

  This varies according to which Apprenticeship scheme you are on, but generally apprentices are on day release once a week i.e. 20% of the time. Some employers may run block release rather than day release programmes.

• What colleges would I attend?

  This would depend on the qualification you were studying for and the requirements of your employer. An employer will usually have established relationships with specific training providers and so they will choose where you study.

• How can an Engineering Apprenticeship help with my longer-term career prospects?

  An engineering Apprenticeship could lead to a wide variety of engineering roles. Gaining work experience at the same time as studying an engineering-related qualification could lead to many different career options. This tool can help you to decide if you want to take the next step and apply for an engineering Apprenticeship.

• What sort of jobs are available after you've completed an Engineering Apprenticeship?

  There are a wide range of fully qualified traded roles available, so again it's worth checking the trades on offer by the organisations that you are interested in applying to.

• What companies offer Engineering Apprenticeships?

  Jaguar Land Rover, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce have jointly developed this tool. They all offer Engineering Apprenticeships each year as do a wide range of other organisations including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Each employer’s Apprenticeship programme and the career options available when you have completed it, will differ. You can find out more about his from the employer offering the Apprenticeship.

• What industries offer Engineering Apprenticeships?

  Engineering is a very broad and varied industry and as such there are many Engineering Apprenticeship opportunities. A selection of the industries offering Engineering Apprenticeships are:

  • Aerospace Industry
  • Automotive Industry
  • Ceramics Manufacturing
  • Coating Operations
  • Food Manufacturing
  • Gas Industry
  • Marine Industry
  • Power Industry
  • Rail Services

• How can I find out more about Engineering Apprenticeships?

  If you want to look into Engineering Apprenticeships then there are a number of routes to explore:

  • Some organisations offer Engineering Apprenticeships on a regular basis such as Jaguar Land Rover, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce to name but a few
  • Semta's website also gives you broad information about the engineering sector, (www.semta.org.uk)
  • www.apprenticeships.org.uk This is the website of the National Apprenticeship Service. From the home page you can find out more about Apprenticeships generally and register on the Apprenticeship Vacancies System. Here you can create your own account and search for 'Apprenticeship Vacancies'. Following the Apprenticeships link provided within the 'Next Steps' tab of this tool will enable you to look specifically at Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Apprenticeships
  • Contact your local training provider, such as EEF, or utilise the Connexions service. These providers can be colleges of Further Education, group training associations, or local employers, for example
  • Use search engines, inserting key words such as 'Apprenticeship'

Suggestion 1

The companies that have helped develop this tool take on engineering apprentices on a regular basis. Why not check out what they have to offer:

• BAE Systems
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Rolls-Royce

Suggestion 2

We suggest that you reflect on what you've read and heard so far. Only you can make the decision whether or not to apply for an Engineering Apprenticeship, and we understand that it’s not for everyone. It's a big decision and you may want to find out more before taking it. For example, you may want to visit the 'Video' or 'FAQs' tab on this site. We'd also encourage you to talk to other people whose opinion you value and who can help you explore your options.

If you feel that an Engineering Apprenticeship is not for you, a wide range of other Apprenticeship schemes are available. You can find out about these from the National Apprenticeship Service, or by talking to careers advisors in job centres, schools, colleges or universities.

You can visit the Horsesmouth website if you want to contact a real life apprentice. If you feel that University is a better option for you, you may find the UCAS website useful.

Suggestion 3

If you are female and considering a career in engineering, you might find the following links helpful:

• Women’s Engineering Society
• Women in Science and Engineering
• UKRC

Suggestion 4

Please complete a small number of feedback questions here. This should only take you a couple of minutes and will really help ensure that we make the tool as good as it can be now and in the future. We can't stress enough how much your feedback matters to us.