National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week 2023 is all about building skills for work and life!
Schools, colleges, employers, career advisers and thousands of students come together online to celebrate Apprenticeships in support of the Government-run National Apprenticeship Week.

Apprenticeships are an exciting option - you get hands-on training and the chance to put your skills into practice. It is a real job where you learn, gain experience, and get paid.

Here at the British Dyslexia Association, we encourage you to explore different career paths that may suit your individual needs.
If you are dyslexic and have thought about doing an apprenticeship,
find out how apprenticeships work, where to find opportunities and what the application process is like. Click here

Helpline Q&A

Question:
Are there different types of apprenticeships?

Answer:
Apprenticeships are organised into different levels which are equivalent to traditional educational levels, like this:
Intermediate (Level 2) = GCSE level
Advanced (Level 3) = A-level
Higher (Levels 4 – 7) = Foundation degree and above
Degree (Levels 6 and 7) = Bachelors or masters degree
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Question
Can adults apply for apprenticeships too?

Answer:
It is a common misconception that apprenticeships are only for those who are entering the world of work from school or college, when in fact apprenticeships are available at any age and are a great way to restart your career, change you career or progress in your current career.
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Question:
Would an apprenticeship suit a person who is dyslexic?

Answer:
Many people who are dyslexic have found being on an apprenticeship to be a good way of developing the skills required for a specific career. An apprenticeship is ‘hands on’ meaning you would be doing the job rather than just learning about it in an academic way. This suits a lot of people with dyslexia many of whom say they prefer to ‘learn by doing’.

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Question:

What would happen if I began an apprenticeship but found my dyslexia was really affecting my achievement, particularly with the written parts of the job:

Answer:

It’s important to remember that your employer wants you to be successful with your apprenticeship and therefore giving you some support should be relatively straightforward.

Because you are in the workplace the employer has a duty to provide reasonable adjustments for any challenges caused by your dyslexia while you are employed there. If you know what support would help then you could request a meeting with your apprenticeship sponsor or your manager to discuss this. If you need some ideas about what may help we have lists of adjustments on these pages: Reasonable Adjustments in the workplace - British Dyslexia Association (bdadyslexia.org.uk)

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Question

I’m worried about the assessments and exams in an apprenticeship, what support can I get for these?

Answer:

It is important to look at the course content before you sign up to check that the way you will be assessed suits your learning style and strengths.

Some apprenticeships include other qualifications which you have to work towards achieving. These may be held either in the workplace or in a local further education college. If you share your concerns with your sponsor, the course trainer or the learning support department in the college you can request support for your studies and for the examinations, this would include the ‘end point assessment’ tasks. A candidate with dyslexia can request additional time and other reasonable adjustments in any exams either: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk...

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Question:
What industries offer apprenticeships?

Answer:
A large number of industries offer apprenticeships, choose from just some of the following;
Agriculture, environment and animal care, Business and Administration, Care services, Catering and hospitality, Construction, Creative and design, Digital, Education and childcare, Engineering and manufacturing, Hair and Beauty, Healthcare and science, Legal, finance and accounting, Protective Services, Sales, marketing and procurement, Transport and logistics
Find out more: https://www.apprenticeships.go...

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Question
Are apprenticeships free?

Answer:
Unlike other professional development routes, including university, professional membership societies, or commercial training, apprenticeships are fully funded, with no fees for learners. Training costs are usually paid by your employer.

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Question:
I am dyslexic and looking for employment, do you have any advice?

Answer:
It’s really important to try to find work that suits your strengths. This organisation offer 1:1 careers coaching free for any adult who is neurodivergant: Exceptional Individuals | Neurodiverse Recruitment & Employee Support They also offer workplace coaching, 1:1 mentoring, help with filling out CVs as well as many other resources relating to recruitment and dyslexia. You can also visit our website to read our advice on dyslexia and looking for work here:
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/adults/looking-for-work