A Guide to Apprenticeships

Whether you are at school, college or just looking to get onto the path to your dream job, apprenticeships can be a great way of accessing the education and career you want. But if you are a blind or partially sighted student, you might not have considered apprenticeships as an option. You may have questions or concerns about what an apprenticeship is, if they are suitable for blind and partially sighted students and what support is available.

Don’t worry, you have come to the right place! In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know to start exploring your own apprenticeship options.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship focuses on giving you the practical skills and knowledge you need to succeed in a specific area of work. It blends together a mix of working on the job and learning in the classroom to give you hands-on experience and learning. Overall, your time will be split between doing paid work with an employer and studying at an education provider such as a college or university.

There are different levels of apprenticeship, depending on what you want to achieve. Find out more about the different levels of apprenticeship.

Why Apprenticeships Could be For You

There are many benefits to picking an apprenticeship as your next education and career option. Here are some reasons why an apprenticeship could be a great fit for you:

• Get paid while you learn. Earning your own money while on your studies will help you feel more independent and give you a step up in supporting yourself in the future.
• Gain valuable practical skills and hands-on experience in a real working environment.  Build your confidence and life skills in the process.
• Get a nationally recognised qualification at the end of your studies.  It will help you stand out to future employers.
• Receive the support you need to ensure your vision impairment is not a barrier to you accessing the education and career you want.
• Provides a route into employment which does not require heavily academic study such as A levels or a university degree.
• Continued access to careers advice and guidance up to the age of 25 with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). You can use this to make the most of the opportunities open to you during and after your apprenticeship.
• Give you access to a path into a potentially in-demand, well paid or enjoyable career. With over 600 different jobs and sectors to choose from, there is bound to be something that sparks your interest!

Further Resources

For some examples of blind and partially sighted students who have taken on apprenticeships, why not check out Rowan’s story, or Marc’s story.

Amazing Apprenticeships

Amazing Apprenticeships has a helpful resource about apprenticeships on their website, which covers what they are, their benefits. They have a series of guides in their Student Zone, which includes all the questions you might have when considering an apprenticeship as a student, such as where to find apprenticeships, which employers offer apprenticeships, how to apply for an apprenticeship. Amazing Apprenticeships has a series of stories,with examples from students who have done apprenticeships.

RNIB

RNIB has an informative page on their website about apprenticeships, including what they are, how to get one, and the support available.

Dolphin

Dolphin Computer Access has a helpful blog on their website, which gives an in-depth guide to apprenticeships for blind and partially sighted young people.

Disability Rights UK

Disability Rights UK’s Into Apprenticeships resource is a guide for disabled people, parents and key advisers about applying for apprenticeships in England. It deals with common questions such as how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace. Check it out here, and download the Word or PDF version to learn more.