Posted on Wednesday 26th July 2017
With exam results looming, the summer can be a nerve-wracking time, not only for students but for parents too.
Exams results clearly have an impact on what your child decides to do next, but there are many options after GCSEs. Some of these are academic and involve further study, others are more vocational and involve an element of learning in the workplace.
Every secondary school has the responsibility to provide independent careers advice to their students, so make the most of this offer and explore all of the available options.
What apprentices want you to know about them
Apprenticeships can give your son or daughter the opportunity to work for a real employer, earn a real salary and gain a real qualification while gaining valuable workplace skills and experience.
We spoke to Catherine Cooke, who grew up in Staffordshire and is a First Year Modern Apprentice with BT, about her experiences as an apprentice so far and what she thinks parents should know about the opportunities an apprenticeship can bring.
She produced this set of short videos to help parents be aware of the benefits an apprenticeship can offer.
Charlotte and Jade - video transcript (12.6 KB)
Cathy and Charles - video transcript (13 KB)
Apprenticeships in Staffordshire
At any one time there are around 130-150 apprenticeship vacancies in Staffordshire. Some of the biggest and most well-known companies in the county and the country recruit apprentices – JCB, Finning and Jaguar Land Rover for example, as well as many smaller, well-established local businesses.
More than 120 apprentices from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent celebrated with their friends, family and employers at the county’s third Apprenticeship Graduation ceremony. Our apprentices shared why it’s such a good career option, while David Frost CBE, Chairman of the Local Enterprise Partnership, explained that they would be the backbone of the region’s increasingly successful economy in the future.
You can find out more about apprenticeships on our learning options and careers pages.