Intermediate Apprenticeships are your entry level apprenticeship, commonly known as a Level 2 apprenticeships. To start an intermediate apprenticeship you must be over the age of sixteen and not in any other further education. This level of apprenticeship is the most popular with individuals who want on the job training and very common in the construction and trades sectors.
At the intermediate level your training will be focusing on giving you the right skills and knowledge to make you work ready, you will likely not be given any responsibility such as managing individuals or projects.
On completion of your apprenticeship training you will have achieved a Level 2 NVQ equivalent to 5 GCSE's and a BTEC diploma relating to your course subject and industry you are training in. You will then be able to advance to the next level apprenticeship training.
What is the qualifying criteria for an Intermediate Apprenticeship?
There is no specific requirement for you to be eligible for a Level 2 apprenticeship, however some apprentice employers and training providers may require a minimum of two GCSE's for you to be successful in your application.
What to expect during your Level 2 apprenticeship training.
As an apprentice you are required to work a minimum of 30 hours per week which includes both on and off the job training. Some apprentice employers may require you to work longer hours of which you will be paid for.
You apprenticeship training will be broken down into two training avenues the first will be on the job training which will take up 80% of your time and the remaining 20% will be allocated to classroom or theory training with either a college, training provider or your employer may opt to become an employer-provider, where they conduct the classroom training themselves.
What industries offer Intermediate Apprenticeships?
Intermediate Apprenticeships are available in almost any industry you can think of to help individuals get work ready and trained in their chosen career path. The majority of apprentice employers and training provider sin the UK offer level 2 apprenticeship training.
There are currently over 150 different types of apprenticeship training programmes in over 100 industries offering intermediate apprenticeships, to include:
• Accounting
• Childcare
•
Construction
• Engineering
• Hairdressing
• Healthcare
• Information Technology
• Retail
• Sales
•
Utilities
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a form of further education which offers on the job training for you to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst studying part-time with an apprenticeship training provider, college or university through workshops or classroom training.
Apprenticeship training has to be delivered by a registered apprenticeship training provider which can also be an employer-provider, where the employer you are training through are on the register of training providers to be able to deliver their own training requirements. If an employer acts as an employer-provider they will usually employ a number of people such as Apprenticeship Assessors, Mentors and Managers to support you through your apprenticeship programme.
During your apprenticeship you will receive a salary and all the other benefits permanent employees receive. An apprenticeship job is only for a specified time as stipulated at the beginning of your apprenticeship training which can last anything from 12 months to 5 years.
To find our more about apprenticeships please refer to our What is an Apprenticeship? guide.
Why should you start an apprenticeship?
If you are considering your post 16 options you probably wouldn't have considered an apprenticeship a few years ago and would be struggling or worrying what to do when you leave school. It is a legal requirement for you to now stay in some form of further education until the age of 18 and you now have three options A-Levels, College or an Apprenticeship.
You can start an apprenticeship at the age of 16 through the Intermediate or Advanced level apprenticeship programmes across many industry sectors from Construction, Technology or even Marketing. There are no entry requirements for the intermediate apprenticeship, however you will need at least 5 GCSE's at grade 4 (previously C grade) or above to qualify for the advanced apprenticeship. On completion of the intermediate you will gain the qualifying criteria for a level 3.
The best reason for starting an apprenticeship is on completion of each level you will receive a nationally recognised qualification from an NVQ all the way up to a degree level apprenticeship such as a Bachelors or Masters.
How can you become an apprentice?
There are a number of ways to become an apprentice so we thought we would list them for you:
- Register with websites like ourselves, there are others available.
- Apprenticeship Job Fairs are great for meeting employers and training providers.
- Contact training providers in your area, a simple Google search "Training providers near me" will give you the information you need.
- Contact your local colleges or universities or visit their websites to see if they offer apprenticeship training.
- UCAS promote apprenticeship opportunities on their website on behalf of employers.
and finally......
- Do some research on apprenticeships and find a topic or industry that you would like to start an apprenticeship in and then research local companies in those sectors and visit their websites to see if they offer apprenticeship training and apply directly with them.
How long do Intermediate Apprenticeships take to complete?
An intermediate Level 2 apprenticeship can take anywhere between 12 months to 18 months to complete depending on the apprenticeship programme and industry you are studying in.
Can I do an Intermediate Apprenticeship even though I already have 5 GCSE's?
If you already have GCSE's grades 9-4 (or A*-C on the old system) you would already have the entry requirements to start an advanced apprenticeship so there may be no need for you to start at this level. However you are able to start an apprenticeship at this level as there are no specific entry requirements, you may decide you want on the job training before starting at a higher level, or you finished school a number of years ago and want to refresh your Maths and English functional skills along with learning a new job skill.
FAQs about Intermediate Apprenticeships
Can I do more than one intermediate apprenticeship?
It's not very common for people to do more than one Level 2 apprenticeship (at different times), but we guess if you want to learn a few trades or skills then there shouldn't be any reason why you couldn't.
How do I start an intermediate apprenticeship?
To start an intermediate apprenticeship you would first need to register to become an apprentice with either a website like ourselves or a registered training provider, you can also apply directly on apprentice employers websites.
What trades offer intermediate apprenticeships?
As the intermediate apprenticeship is the entry level for apprentices many trades offer this level apprenticeship to train individuals with core skills and knowledge. Trades such as plumbing, electricians or plastering and bricklaying apprenticeships.
How much do intermediate apprentices earn?
The legal minimum wage for an apprentice in the UK is £4.15 per hour, however many companies pay much higher to attract apprentices to their company. In some industries such as telecom apprenticeships they are paying as high as £25,000 per year.
When can I start an intermediate apprenticeship?
You can start a Level 2 apprenticeship at any age post 16 and have a willingness to learn. There is no age restriction on apprenticeships.