APPRENTICESHIPS
The ‘perfect
choice’?
Apprenticeships are
becoming an increasingly
popular way for school
leavers to enter the world
of work. With the new law
increasing the age at which
young people are required
to participate in education
or training, becoming
an apprentice has never
been a better option.
Dilly Begum reports.
38
around ealing
Spring 2015
Y
oung people leaving school
from 2015 onwards will have
to continue in education
or training until their 18th
birthday in accordance with the
Education and Skills Act 2008.
Yet, staying on in school or college
is not the only path on offer and lots of
young people are choosing to combine
both training and education by joining
an apprenticeship programme.
There are numerous advantages to
becoming an apprentice that help you go
on to build a career or be able to compete
in the future job market, including the
ability to earn while you learn.
KARAN’S STORY
Karan Beghi was taken on as an
apprentice at Ealing Council two years
ago. After a successful apprenticeship,
he was employed full-time as a
business support officer at the council.
He said: “There are pressures on
young people to go to university or
follow certain career paths, often from
their peers and family. I thought about
university, but realised it wasn’t the
right choice for me.
“The council’s apprenticeship
programme was the perfect choice
for me. It gave me a step-up into the
world of full time employment while
receiving lots of support and training
over the two years. I grasped the
opportunity and used the experience
to apply for a job with the regulatory
Karan with headteacher Gerry Wadwa
services team. It has been the best
choice for me and I would encourage
anyone leaving school who is unsure of
what they want to do next to consider
an apprenticeship.”
Karan has since gone back to his old
school, Featherstone High in Southall,
to give talks to students about his
experiences.
Gerry Wadwa, headteacher at
Featherstone High School, said: “We are
currently talking to some pupils about
the apprenticeship programme. For us,
it’s a valuable learning path which has
been popular with lots of students. It’s
fundamentally important to us to see
young people feel comfortable with the
choices they make and it’s a pleasure to
see our students doing so well through
the apprenticeship scheme.”
WANT TO BE AN APPRENTICE?
Since 2007, Ealing Council’s internal
apprenticeship scheme has been
recruiting 25 enthusiastic young
people each year for placements at the
council, and the next set of vacancies