Apprenticeships are commonly perceived to be a pathway for young people who are starting a new career and building skills and knowledge however, statistics show that under 19 apprenticeships account for only 23% of overall apprenticeship numbers. In contrast, advanced and higher-level apprenticeships (level 3-7) account for 78% of total apprenticeship figures nationally.

In the year 2022/3 there was a rise in participation of 19+ apprenticeships, with an estimated 621,000 adults studying an apprenticeship in England. Apprenticeships are not only useful for starting out in an industry, but they also serve as a valuable upskilling opportunity for achieving a promotion, learning a new area of a business, or personal development.

We caught up with apprentice, Andy, to find out why he chose an apprenticeship later in his career.

Andy was a learner at Stockton Riverside College. He studied a Level 5 Apprenticeship in Children, Young People and Families Manager (Residential). The apprenticeship is between 18-24 months in duration and covers modules including Child Development and Theories, Youth Justice, Safeguarding, SEN, Techniques to Support Children with Trauma, statutory framework/requirements, legislation and more.

Andy, why did you decide to pursue an apprenticeship in residential childcare?

“I received a promotion at work, and this meant that to work at management level within the company, I would need to work towards my level 5.”

How did the College help you throughout your apprenticeship?

“When I needed anything, they were very supportive, and they would email me or speak to me on the phone. When I came into the College, they would sit with me and go through things, which made everything clearer.”

What are your next steps now that you have gained your level 5 qualification?

“Now that I am a residential manager and I have my level 5 qualification, I hope to help the other staff members and young people to achieve success. An aim for us would be to get the best outcome possible from Ofsted which would be an ‘Outstanding’.”

Would you recommend an apprenticeship to others?

“Yes, I would. I found it very engaging, and it was good to help build knowledge and understanding. I learned a lot through the on-the-job work with the learners as well as the off-the-job assignments and study.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the apprenticeships we offer, visit our apprenticeships page for more information, click here: Apprenticeships | Stockton Riverside College

*data pulled from gov.uk, January 2024.