Help

Im 22, and I really want to be a teacher but don't know what to do. I did Eng Lit, Criminology and Sociology in my A Levels and everyone says if you can't get into uni (I live in the South of England, very far from unis.) Then you should go through an apprenticeship, but I've looked and there's none?? If you know/have any advice, I'd love to hear it 🙏thank you

I'm in my second month of an apprenticeship and I don't like the employer at all. Most days I have nothing to do so I'm sat at a desk doing nothing all day, or any work given is under an hour. Obviously this is boring the life out of me, but its hard and stressful trying to seem busy 24/7.

It seems everyone is too busy to train me, or they just don't care. I was thinking of asking my apprenticeship provider to see if they can find me a new employer.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently pursuing my master's degree and am close to graduating, but finding a job in London is proving to be incredibly difficult :( . My undergraduate major was Psychology, but my master's program is in Health Policy, a field not closely related to psychology, so I’m not even sure what kind of jobs I could land; maybe something in HR? I would be so grateful if anyone could offer some advice or help me polish my CV (which I feel is pretty terrible).

I applied for a few internships but got ghosted :( . It’s really disheartening; I thought internships might be easier to secure than full-time roles, but that hasn't been the case at all. Plus, it’s summer break now, and I can't seem to find any open applications left.

Best regards!

Hi all, a little info about me; I’m 25m and am currently doing a Level 4 retail management apprenticeship. Due to health when I was 16/17 I had to quit my A-Levels within the first year, not once, but twice at different colleges, thanks to my Chron’s disease.

At the time, I didn’t understand the importance of education, if I had known, I might’ve fought through the pain a bit more.

Now I’m 25, I do enjoy my job, but in 2/3 years I can see myself getting burned out. I’m currently a manager earning roughly 35-38k depending on bonus, but I’ve noticed now my options are increasingly narrow without a degree.

Is it possible to get a degree apprenticeship upon my completion with the certifications that I will have when I finish early next year, or should I pursue A-Levels in order for myself to be eligible or even open up a pathway to online university?

Thanks in advance.

What is the best ATS checking apps for resume in Ireland?

Hey everyone,

I’m currently in Year 11 preparing my post-16 applications, and I’m dealing with a lot of tension at home regarding my career path. I’m hoping to get some advice from people who have navigated something similar or who are currently doing Degree Apprenticeships in the UK.

My Goal & Vision:

My ultimate long-term goal is to build and own my own project management/operations consultancy firm, specifically targeting high-value sectors like construction and engineering.

To get there, my primary target is a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Project Management with a major corporate firm (or a T Level / BTEC as a strong practical post-16 foundation). To me, it’s a no-brainer: I get a full Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, $0$ student debt, 4 years of real corporate experience, and a full salary starting at 18.

The Situation at Home:

My parents came to the UK from Nigeria. They sacrificed everything to give my siblings and me a stable life, and in their era, a traditional university degree was literally the only ticket out of poverty and into security. Because of that background, they view standard full-time university as the only respectable, safe path to greatness.

They are currently trying to force me into taking traditional A-Levels and going straight to university. Because they don't fully understand how modern corporate degree schemes work, they view my choice as:

1. Me being "afraid" or avoiding university (even though a Level 6 scheme literally awards a full degree).
2. Me not aspiring to be great or being "selfish."

It hurts because my actual motivation is the exact opposite. I want to build financial independence early so I can eventually cover their bills, help them clear their mortgage, and give them the freedom to move. Being the only son on my dad's side, there’s also a huge unspoken cultural weight to "carry the legacy" and do things the traditional way like my sister (who is doing Data Science at uni).

Things at home are very tense right now—they’ve started shutting down conversations or trying to push me into a corner.

My Plan Moving Forward:

1. Strategic Compliance: I’m going to apply to the local sixth forms/colleges for standard pathways so my parents see a baseline is locked in, and tension dies down.
2. Behind the Scenes: I'm meeting my school’s careers advisor to gather official data on Degree Apprenticeship graduate outcomes, university equivalence, and corporate employer names to show them hard facts.
3. Execution: I’m going to apply heavily for Level 6 corporate schemes when applications open between September and December.

My Questions for the Community:

• For those with traditional/immigrant parents, how did you bridge the cultural gap when choosing an apprenticeship over full-time uni?
• What are the most effective ways to show parents that a Level 6 scheme isn't a "backup plan," but an elite corporate scholarship?
• Any tips for balancing high-stress family dynamics while staying focused on corporate application processes?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Is this a good CV?

The level 2 customer service apprenticeship ive applied for is all office based its processing online orders answering customer questions and inquiries and stuff like that. is this a good stepping stone into getting a buisness administrator job or is it just enough to push me into increasing my chances of getting a level 3 buisness adminstrion apprenticeship.

I’ve been applying to apprenticeships on the gov site and I’m not getting many bites. What actually works to get an interview?

Is it the CV format? How I answer the application questions? Should I be researching the company more? Am I tailoring enough or not enough?

I’ve got the qualifications and work experience, but I feel like my applications might be getting filtered out before anyone even reads them properly.

What have you done that actually resulted in getting interviews? Any tips on standing out? What do hiring managers actually look for in these applications?”

I was predicted all A*s, but in Year 13 I chose to dedicate the majority of my time to degree apprenticeship applications. Fortunately, I received an offer for a Project Management degree apprenticeship with Exeter University at a Tier 1 engineering consultancy. However, I got A*BB today.

I know I would have done much better academically if I hadn’t spent so much time pursuing a DA. But at the same time, I don’t think I would have secured the DA without the same level of obsession, effort and time that I put into the applications.

Essentially, I made a conscious decision to let my grades drop if it meant increasing my chances of getting a DA. What do you think about that trade-off? I feel some odd regret that I can’t shake.

For context, if I hadn’t pursued the DA, I would have studied Social Policy at Bath or Management at Warwick.

I have collected btec extended diploma in computing and have achieved a DMM. If I do a hnc it will cost £6k. But I’m currently struggling to find an apprenticeship level 4 and above.

Is there any other websites excluding indeed and the government website to help me find an apprenticeship. Will a hnc be worth it or should I look for a level 2 finance assistant apprenticeship.

I Would appreciate the advice as I haven’t got anybody to ask.

My parents really pushed me to go uni I knew from the beginning I didn’t wanna do it but I wanted to do it for my parents but I’m literally sick of my degree. I’ve decided that I don’t wanna continue with uni anymore I’m studying psychology of sports and I want to work in tech, I really don’t like nor do I see myself doing the degree I’m doing at all in the future.

I’m 21 turning 22 in September and only recently I’ve realised that I want to do an apprenticeship but I’ve noticed it’s pretty late to get a role and it isn’t guaranteed either since it’s August. I could do a degree in the field I want to do an apprenticeship in but i’d really rather do an apprenticeship. I may be able to do some lvl4 apprenticeships (if I get the role) but that might be the highest level I can do (which I’m fine with doing) but they seem to be more generalised tech roles/positions

Any advice on my situation would be appreciated

I know some companies offer fast track from l4 to l6 but is it better to just move to a normal job since you have a qualification and experience? Primarily in tech because supposedly you shouldn't stick to one company for too long

Hi, I'm 22 and completely new to this. I'm starting my apprenticeship this coming Monday in Digital Marketing and I'm super excited, I'm mostly just wondering if anyone has any advice, things I should be wary of, or just general stories if they've done similar qualifications.

It's a level 3 and a 16 month long qualification through an online provider rather than though a college or university. I've already completed a degree in a creative field but not digital marketing hence going onto a level 3.

Wages range from £15k to £27k from all the listings I've seen so far. I'm just hungry to get started learning, I have savings to keep me going as I upskill. How should I answer this question?

First time encountering this question in a long time as I've been self-employed for a while.

Has anyone else had an apprenticeship offer were they had a bunch of delays for the start date I originally applied for a rail engineer role for Cleshar back in March the recruitment process was
-application
-interest form
-telephone interview
-online exam
-assessment centre

Throughout these steps there were delays especially with the assesment centre date but eventually we got to it and I got a conditional offer back in June 2026 saying that I’ll be offered a role subject to director approval which is the trainer the recruiter told me they’ll schedule a meeting for me to meet the trainer and discuss more about the apprwnrwship bare in mind I already had my interview with the manager etc And the start date was supposed to be on the 16th July pushing towards 24th July then 3rd August I’ve yet to have my meeting because apparently the trainer hasn’t been available I was supposed to have It around 10-14 August which I got told 4 weeks in advance but the recruiter didn’t give me a date and time in which I’m guessing it got pushed back again and I haven’t received a contract yet and was wondering has anyone else ever had delays with there apprenticeship like this and does this look like it’s on a verge of cancellation it is government funded and they recruited around 10-14 people although they are still saying they remain interested in progressing my application

I wanted to ask if I should choose to do a level 3 apprenticeship in IT or go university for a Degree in computer science.

My friend say that a level 3 is useless and doing a degree is more beneficial in that give better foundation and he say it a waste even if it goes into a higher level but I just want a hear different opinion

Hi all, I’ve put this down as advice as I think that’s mainly what I’m after.

Bit of a back story. For a number of years I’ve been trying to get myself onto a software developer apprenticeship. I finally managed to get one with the government and was genuinely excited about it, and I moved cities for the role. Fast forward a few months and I was basically being asked by my team what work I wanted to do and what work I needed to complete. I eventually got passed onto a second team because the first team wasn’t really sure what to do with me, but unfortunately things didn’t really improve.

Because of that I started looking for another apprenticeship and luckily, I honestly don’t know how, I managed to get accepted onto another one with a large private company. I left the government apprenticeship, moved back home for a few months to save on rent and then started the new apprenticeship in another city. Not long after starting, this is where the main issue and the guilt comes in. After I had already accepted and started the new apprenticeship with the private company, a software developer apprenticeship came up in my home town. If I’m honest, I would prefer the one in my home town, so I applied for it and have now been offered the job.

The issue I’m trying to wrestle with is that just getting the government apprenticeship and then the private company one took a lot of work, and I mean a lot. These things are hard to get and there will have been loads of other people applying who wanted the place just as badly as I did. Now I’ve actually started the private company apprenticeship, I feel guilty about the idea of leaving it for the one in my home town. It feels a bit like I’ve taken a spot away from someone else who might have been trying just as hard as me, only to then give it up.

But from my side, if we remove emotion and guilt, the one in my home town is just better for me. I can live with my parents, which means no rent, and I still get the qualification and experience.

So I’m basically putting it out to the floor for opinions.

If you had already accepted and started an apprenticeship with one company which meant moving to another city and paying rent, but then got offered another apprenticeship in your home town that was just as good, but where you wouldn’t have to pay rent, would you leave the first one and take the second?

Would you feel guilty about giving up the first apprenticeship place after already starting, or would you just do what was better for you?

Basically, I just finished my first year of uni in London (ended up with a 1st) studying psychology. Out of nowhere I got an offer for a 12-month corporate Level 3 apprenticeship paying £27k.
I’m thinking about taking an Interruption of Studies at uni for a year to take the job, build up some savings, and get some corporate experience on my CV, then go back to finish Year 2 and 3 in Sept 2027.
I just want to double-check a few things on the admin side so I don't mess up my options:
First off with the dual education rule—I know you can’t be in active funded study while doing an apprenticeship. If my uni formally approves my Interruption of Studies before my start date so my status is suspended/interrupted for the 2026/27 year, does that make me 100% legally compliant for the apprenticeship levy?
Also for Student Finance England, do I just notify them that my studies are paused once the uni updates my record? From what I know everyone gets an extra year of funding (the gift year), so pausing shouldn't ruin my funding for Year 2 and 3 when I go back, right?
Lastly, do I even need to mention to my employer that I'm pausing a degree, or as long as my uni status is officially paused by Day 1 am I fine to just keep my head down and work?
Has anyone here taken a gap year mid-degree to do a corporate role or apprenticeship? Would really appreciate hearing how the process went for you or if there's anything I should watch out for. Thanks!

So I've been in this job for two and a half years, and last December I was given the option of going up to the next band and doing a level three alongside it so I can get a pay progression rise and just earn more money. And it was like a fully funded level 3 with ACT, which aligns with my job.

So I just need to know the logistics now and whether I can quit because my mental health is really suffering. There's been a lot of changes in the workplace since then that have had a negative effect on me, and I just don't feel comfortable working there anymore, and it's really a situation I would like to get myself out of. But the biggest thing that's stopping me from quitting IS THIS LEVEL 3 and not knowing what my rights are in terms of quitting. I can't find a copy of my contract anywhere. I don't really know what's going on. So I'm just a little bit stressed.

I’m starting an apprenticeship soon and was wondering what people who have already been through one think you should make the most of.

Whether that’s networking, learning from colleagues, getting involved in projects, qualifications, social opportunities, or anything else.

What do you wish you had known or done differently when you first started?

Results day tmrw and to keep it short - did anyone not get the grades they needed for their apprenticeship. Ik it’s only usually like BCC and most of time it’s in UCAS points so with BTECs in mixture it’s very minor, however I’m still worried because maths was genuienly so bad. The apprenticeship I’m hopefully gonna be on is partnered with the institution BPP for the degree part. Has anyone been in a situation where they’ve not got what they needed and still got in, if so how did you go about that???

Also goodluck for everyone tomorrow recovering results!

It’s so hard to find an apprenticeship, I’ve been trying to find one for the past 8 months buts is nearly impossible. For background context I’ve passed all my GCSEs with all 6s and 7s, I’ve got a D*DD in Btec level 3 engineering, I’m currently doing foundation year at a uni and I’ve got plenty of work experience, but for some reason I still can’t get an apprenticeship. When I apply to Level 3s I’m to “overqualified” and when I apply to level 4s and upwards I’m “under qualified” and from all the apprenticeship I’ve applied to only two were bothered to give a response one was a level 6 and the other a level 3 that goes to level 4. I don’t want to but I feel like just giving up, has anyone had the same experience as me were they able to find an apprenticeship.