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Getting paid while you learn might sound too good to be true, but as an apprentice you really do get the best of both worlds.
At Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council we're big on innovation. To achieve this we want people with big ideas about how we could do things differently and better and who aren't afraid to voice them.
An apprenticeship with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is a great way to get your career off the ground. You will gain valuable on-the-job experience while continuing to learn, gaining a qualification and earning at the same time.
You can look forward to an excellent range of benefits including our online benefits platform, generous leave entitlement, healthcare cash plan and pension scheme.
Every single employee at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council makes a difference and we are proud to say we go beyond for them as an employer, so they go beyond for our residents to deliver excellent services.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. Apprentices work alongside experienced staff, gaining job specific skills and earning a wage. Alongside this, apprentices study for a qualification, usually by attending college one day a week or a trainer coming into the workplace.
Apprenticeships are available at different levels depending on what stage of your education you’re at.
Intermediate - equivalent to 5 GCSE passes
Advanced - equivalent to 3 A level passes
Higher - Level 4 and above such as a foundation degree
Apprenticeships last two to four years depending on their level.
There are a number of apprenticeships available at degree and postgraduate level, meaning there’s no limit to how far an apprenticeship could take you.
Are apprenticeships a good alternative to university?
Yes, apprenticeships offer a different way to learn. Often the subjects you study are the same, for example IT or engineering, but at university you’ll learn through academic methods, whereas on an apprenticeship your learning would be more practical.
What will an apprenticeship mean for my future career prospects?
Employers will really value the combination of a qualification and work experience you’ll gain during your apprenticeship. At the end of the apprenticeship, you could choose to look for a job, progress to the next level of apprenticeship or return to higher education.
What types of apprenticeships are available?
There are hundreds of different apprenticeships available. If there’s a particular job you’d like to do its likely there’s already an apprenticeship for it. A whole range of employers offer apprenticeships, from large employers like the BBC and IBM, to much smaller local businesses.
How much will I get paid?
There’s a minimum wage for apprentices, currently this is £5.28 per hour for apprentices in their first year. After this it increases to the minimum wage for your age. However most employers pay considerably more than this. At Basingstoke and Deane, we currently pay £5.66 an hour (£209.42 a week).
What else will I get?
You’ll get 22 days paid leave (pro rata for part time staff), which increases after five, 10, 20 and 30 years’ service. We offer flexi-time, subject to business requirements and a healthcare cash plan to help cover your day-to-day healthcare expenditure, such as optical and dental bills. We also have an excellent benefits package for our staff, including a benefits platform which offers great discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and more, free flu vaccinations, subsidised health checks, interest free loans for training and travel, salary sacrifice scheme for bicycles, travel discounts and more.
What will I be doing?
This will depend on the apprenticeship you undertake, however the purpose of the apprenticeship is to make you ready for a real job. You’ll have real responsibility and be learning from the experienced staff you’ll be working alongside.
The Hampshire Apprenticeship Partnership
Delivering apprenticeships we're proud of, we are working with three local councils who have developed an exciting new apprentice programme, providing an alternative to college or university.
Our programme includes additional development days where you'll meet up with apprentices from across the partnership to build new skills. You'll also have a chance to develop your team working skills and take part in projects that benefit the community.
Apprentices will have the opportunity to work jointly across the partnership, gaining broader experiences and knowledge, with the aim of improving future employment prospects.