While studying at university is one path to an engineering career, an engineering apprenticeship can help teach you vital skills while earning you money at the same time. This makes it an attractive option and one that has helped kickstart many engineering careers.

Whether it’s in aviation, automotive, or infrastructure, an engineering apprenticeship can teach you transferable skills, grow your network, and give you an edge on the competition when it comes to applying for your first job in the engineering industry. 

What to know about engineering apprenticeships

Engineering apprenticeships are paid

One of the main benefits of doing an engineering apprenticeship is that you’ll be paid while you are learning. Engineering is the highest paying type of apprenticeship you can do, with competitive salaries thanks to firms looking for new talent.

Not only will you have earned money, but you won’t have built up debt like a university student. You will also have holiday leave, so you can take time off if you need it.

Your learning is varied

While the majority of your apprenticeship is spent on the job learning practical skills, you also receive training on other topics related to the field. 

At least 20% of your time in an apprenticeship will be spent learning skills ‘off the job’, possibly in a college or university. This ensures that not only will you be competent at what you do, but also that you’ll have an understanding of other skills related to your work. 

It could include technical theory, shadowing professionals in the industry, or visiting engineering sites. 

You can build your professional network

Another benefit of an engineering apprenticeship is that while you learn, you can meet people in the industry, and grow your professional network.

The old adage of ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ rings true, no matter what industry you’re in, and building a strong network of professional contacts may pay dividends later on in your career. 

You never know who you might end up working with and who might be able to get you a job, vouch for your character, or recommend you for a new opportunity in the future. 

You earn a nationally recognised qualification

Perhaps the most important benefit of doing an engineering apprenticeship is that at the end of it, you’ll have a qualification. It shows you’re intelligent, capable, and highly-trained, an asset for any engineering role.  

An engineering apprenticeship can directly lead to a job 

Lastly, one of the strongest arguments for doing an engineering apprenticeship is that it gets you in with a chance of a job as soon as the apprenticeship finishes. 

You’re in direct contact with senior leaders and HR at the place you’ve worked, who have seen how you’ve learned, grown, and progressed. It’s not surprising that so many apprenticeships evolve into jobs and form the basis of long and prosperous engineering careers. 

 Learn how to create the perfect CV as an engineering student, or read about the skills required to work as a technical contractor.