• Question: Whats the difference between through an apprentice scheme and going straight to University, and why did you choose to use an apprenticeship instead?

    Asked by I Love Brownies to Huw, Gosha, Ray, Stacey, Steve on 16 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by 282appb37.
    • Photo: Steve Cox

      Steve Cox answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      I was fortunate to do both at the same time. I was a Student Apprentice with Jaguar Cars which meant that I got to learn a lot of very practical skills and experience lots of different departments within the company whilst at the same time as studying the theoretical side at university. I believe that made me a better engineer when I graduated.

      I now consider myself very lucky because those type of schemes all but disappeared. I hope that now apprenticeships have been seen to be avery good thing that those type of Student Apprentice schemes make a comeback.

    • Photo: Stacey Cutten

      Stacey Cutten answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      To be honest, when I was in sixth form I didn’t look into apprenticeships until last minute. I had always been told I was going university and just assumed that is where I should be going. I couldn’t do engineering at university because I hadn’t done Maths and Physics at A Level 🙁 This, together with the fact that I couldn’t go to university because I didn’t have enough money to move away, I decided to look into apprenticeships. I couldn’t believe I had never looked at them before and I’m so happy I did 😀

      By the time I’m 23 I will hopefully have a degree, but also have 5 years work experience and I wont have a student loan debt… which is very impressive!

    • Photo: Huw Williams

      Huw Williams answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      The main difference between an Apprentice and a full time student is that the Apprentice studies part-time (1 day per week) and the Apprentice doesn’t have to pay and fees themselves!

      Here are four reasons why I chose an Apprenticeship:

      Firstly I could do an apprenticeship and get 3 years worth of work experience.
      Secondly I could do a degree and my company would pay all my uni fees.
      Thirdly I’d finish my apprenticeship and move straight into a guaranteed job, which are very hard to come by these days.
      Fourth and most important, I could get paid whilst doing all that too!

      Huw

    • Photo: Gosha Barzowska

      Gosha Barzowska answered on 17 Mar 2015:

      For me it was simple decision – the main difference between My Apprenticeshipa and University is that at Uni you don’t get any real experiance of being an engineer. Apprenticeship in a sense is a better deal because:
      1) You apply theory into PRACTICE from day one
      2) You GET PAID for going to work and school
      3) You still get a full Engineering DEGREE at the end of the apprenticeship
      4) NO UNI FEES – your employers pays for that
      For me it’s the best deal you can ever get! 🙂

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