Apprenticeships are a great option if you already have a career in mind, and are looking for a way to earn money while you study. If you already work in a job you enjoy, an apprenticeship will allow you to get the qualifications you need to progress. Different levels are available so you can enrol for the qualification suitable for your experience. Anyone aged 16 or over can enrol and start a new and exciting learning experience in the workplace.

If you’re still not sure about enrolling on an apprenticeship, we also offer traineeships. These are great introductions to the workplace and will allow you to get a feel for the type of learning experience that an apprenticeship offers.

Apprenticeships are best suited to people who want to dive straight into a new career, or who are already in full-time employment.  Apprenticeships are tailored to your individual career goals and employment requirements, whereas full time courses provide a broader understanding of commercial sectors and skills. It really depends on what you want to do and how you prefer to learn – there’s no right or wrong answer and both paths give you the skills and qualifications to progress at work or into higher education. We can offer lots of information, advice and guidance to help you decide which route is right for you.

We currently offer three levels of apprenticeships:

Intermediate Apprenticeships – Level 2

Level 2 Apprenticeships are ideal for people who are completely new to a career sector. Intermediate Apprenticeships bridge the gap between your existing education and experience and will give you all the basic understanding you’ll need.

Advanced Apprenticeships – Level 3

If you already have some experience or qualifications, an Advanced Apprenticeship will develop your understanding further. Qualifications you gain here are equivalent to A levels and will give you the opportunity to progress on to university, a HNC or HND.

Higher Apprenticeships – Level 4+

You can continue learning through work-based apprenticeships all the way up to a Master’s Degree (Level 7). This is a highly cost effective way to get a degree, as you won’t incur the student debt of university, and will be earning a wage at the same time! At Fareham College, we offer Higher Apprenticeships up to Level 5, perfect for supporting operational management roles across a range of different sectors.

Yes! Whatever your age, we can support you in learning new skills with your current employer, or find apprenticeship opportunities with a new employer.  The focus is always on new learning and career progression at whatever level you start.

Apprentices at all levels attend regular day release, usually by coming to college for weekly attendance or block release, or in some cases our tutors come to your workplace to cover the theory you need for your qualification. Normally, apprentices produce a portfolio of evidence or are assessed externally to complete the programme. This will be specific to the apprenticeship you are interested in, and our team will discuss the exact requirements with you before you apply.  Not all apprenticeships have formal qualifications attached, although we always try and ensure that you get accredited training to enhance your experience.

Apprentices get paid different amounts. There is a special national Apprenticeship minimum wage which means you will get paid at least £3.70 per hour, but most apprentices get paid more than that. Many apprentices, particularly at the higher levels, get paid significantly more.

Most apprenticeships are just like full-time jobs, with one day a week out of the office to study at college. You’ll also need to set aside a little of your time to complete assignments or coursework. It might sound like hard work, but you get the benefit of valuable qualifications, real-life career experience AND wages into your bank account every month.

All Apprenticeship programmes follow a one to four year structured programme that leads to a formal qualification and a job. They include study units in Employment Rights and Responsibilities, English and Maths and, in some programmes, ICT.

The entry qualifications you need will depend on the specific apprenticeship and level that you would like to do. In some cases, prior experience of working in a particular industry might be needed, or a DBS check if, for example, you want to work in a care or educational setting. Certain apprenticeships, such as Science or IT, might also require GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grade 9-5.

All apprenticeships require you to have GCSE, or equivalent, qualifications in English and Maths, as these subjects are essential for virtually every career path or type of further training. Don’t worry if you do not already hold these qualifications though; you will automatically work towards completing them as part of your apprenticeship, and lots of support and coaching is available to help you achieve the grades you need.

If you are over the age of 16 and have been living in England for at least three years then you can apply for an apprenticeship. If you are interested in an apprenticeship, head to our Current Vacancies page or contact us on 01329 815 200. You can apply for specific job roles on our website, but we will always invite you to come in for an informal chat, or will visit you at work, to make sure that you have all the facts.

Unlike other courses which tend to start in September, apprenticeships are flexible and start at different times throughout the year.  Some programmes, like engineering and accounting, have several drop-in points throughout the year. Just contact us for more details and we can help you decide the best time to start.

You will get paid a wage throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. Apprentices are fully employed staff members so there isn’t any other financial assistance outside of your wages.  If you want to know more about this, or which employer grants are available, then please speak to one of our team.

Yes – apprenticeships are suitable for everyone! Programmes are designed around you as an individual and delivered over a time period that enables you to achieve your career goals.