University is a great choice for those looking to advance their knowledge in a specific subject but graduating with little to no work experience can make it difficult to land a role in a competitive job market. Apprenticeships are now a great option for those who graduate from university and are looking to dive straight into the world of work.
In this blog, we’ll break down why it’s not a choice between apprenticeships OR university, but instead, how they go hand in hand – giving you access to a wider choice of career options!
APPRENTICESHIPS OR UNIVERSITY?
The apprenticeships vs university argument is now outdated, it’s not a choice between which route you should take, but instead which one you start with.
There is a common misconception that apprentices are all paid minimum wage, however recent research from Glassdoor found that the average annual salary of an apprentice in the UK currently stands at £19,319 – competing with graduate jobs!
Apprenticeships are also a great starting point for those looking to launch a long-term career in a specific field. At Baltic, we pride ourselves on growing our business from the ground up through apprenticeships and many of our team have completed degrees prior to enrolling on an apprenticeship programme.
We caught up with Zoe, a Marketing Assistant at Baltic who recently completed her Level 3 Digital Marketer Apprenticeship:
“Before starting at Baltic, I completed a degree in Business and Marketing Management at the University of Sunderland. Since starting my role as a Marketing Assistant, I’ve been given some amazing opportunities and completed a marketing apprenticeship as part of my professional development.
“My apprenticeship has helped me develop skills in areas of marketing that I didn’t cover during my degree, as well as achieving my Google Analytics certification. My modules were cross referenced with what I had previously completed as part of my degree to ensure that completing the apprenticeship would provide me with new skills and knowledge. My apprenticeship has allowed me to take on further responsibilities in my current job role.”
ARE GRADUATES ELIGIBLE FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP?
In some cases, an apprenticeship may not be an option in the same field that you completed a degree in.
Apprenticeships are government funded and in order to be eligible, you must be able to develop new skills and build your knowledge in this area. If your university modules are duplicated and the course content is too similar to the Apprenticeship Standard – you may not meet the criteria needed to enrol onto an apprenticeship.
At Baltic, we have a team of people dedicated to checking eligibility criteria, so we can find out this information for you if you decide to apply for an apprenticeship with us.
DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS
If you decide that an apprenticeship is the best career option for you, this doesn’t mean a university degree is out of reach later down the line.
Apprenticeships offer a complete professional development plan which starts at Level 3 and advances up to Level 6 (bachelors degree) and Level 7 (masters degree). As you progress through apprenticeships, you could earn your degree while working.
FIND OUT MORE
If an apprenticeship sounds like the right option for you or you are a recent graduate looking to start your career, check out our latest vacancies or browse our tech and digital apprenticeship programmes to learn more.