Apprenticeship or college?

[Andys]

If you do apprenticeship expect to get paid low money, and basically be a slave till your training's complete.

Yeah I know that. I'd be lucky to be earning £100 a week, but it gets you started doesn't it? Gives you the experience and training in that area of work to able to be qualified for a job in that field of work.

[N-Dubz]

Yeah I know that. I'd be lucky to be earning £100 a week, but it gets you started doesn't it? Gives you the experience and training in that area of work to able to be qualified for a job in that field of work.

I know but I was just telling you, if you want to go down the apprenticeship route make sure it's what you really want to do. You'll be working hard hours all week most probably, and then you'll have training on the weekend too depending on what field you go into. They make you earn that small amount of wage, and they don't like you quitting once you've started.

[Kasabian]

From first hand experience, Apprenticeship was the better option from me.

Like you said, it's the experience you gain - this is important. Example, you go to college and study for 2/3 years, yeah you've got your qualifications, but where's your experience? How do you fair in the 'real world', so to speak.

I'd much rather be on a shop floor of a factory/in an office etc rather than stuck in a college group, where a small percentage of them will disrupt your learning. The working environment helps develop people skills, and experience in your selected career choice.

I had an apprenticeship as a maintenance engineer. I was there 3 years - with a part-time 1 day college course each year. I trained in the mechanical side of engineering, working on various machines.

If I had gone to college, I would know the logic behind it all - but wouldn't have first hand experience in the area - stripping down a motor, changing drive belts etc.

For me, apprenticeships are the way to go. Qualifications, Experience in a working environment & some cash in your back pocket.

Also, saying you'd be 'lucky to earn £100 a week'. £2.50 of your wage is whats paid by the government towards the apprenticeship, 40 hours a week x £2.50 = £100.
This might not seem alot to you, but take into consideration that colleges are now stopping EMA. Some company's also pay towards your wage, when I started my apprenticeship I was on £5 an hour, 2 years later and I had had pay raises and I was on £7.36 an hour, which isn't bad at the age of 18.

If you do apprenticeship expect to get paid low money, and basically be a slave till your training's complete.

Not true. Depending on the company, you are treated as a colleague rather than a 'slave'.
For the first couple of months, I was told to shadow a certain engineer at the company, get to know the ropes and what he was doing. A few more months later, I was given my own tasks, and they'd leave me to finish it. Some employers do put trust in you, to gain your own experience, rather than be a 'slave'.

[N-Dubz]

Not true. Depending on the company, you are treated as a colleague rather than a 'slave'.
For the first couple of months, I was told to shadow a certain engineer at the company, get to know the ropes and what he was doing. A few more months later, I was given my own tasks, and they'd leave me to finish it. Some employers do put trust in you, to gain your own experience, rather than be a 'slave'.

In majority of companies, for the amount of money you're earning, you basically are a slave in terms. I suppose it depends if you really want to put the effort in and if it's the job you really want. I hated working the hours I was given, which I later found out was actually illegal hours, and then realizing halfway through the course I didn't even want to do it. At least in College you're training for various things, and if you're on certain courses you do get placements during so.

I understand with EMA stopping a lot more people will want to do the apprenticeship route. It all depends on what sort of person you are, because the placements I was on when doing apprenticeships made me really work to get that money. Half the time I wasn't even doing the job I was hired for. I prefer college myself, but each to their own I guess.