5 advantages of starting your career with an Apprenticeship

With IT career opportunities expanding around the world, professionals at all ranks are upskilling or reskilling to enter this fascinating field.

Entry-level employees have many different paths to access the industry. One option, often overlooked, is doing an Apprenticeship, which combines on-the-job learning with classroom instruction.

Based on feedback we've received from our learners, we believe Apprenticeships are an excellent way to enter the field of IT.

Here are some reasons why.

1. Apprenticeships teach you practical skills

Rather than just learning theoretical concepts in a classroom, apprentices work alongside experienced professionals, getting hands-on experience in the IT industry. This gives them a strong foundation of practical skills that they can expand throughout their career.

2. With Apprenticeships, you earn while you learn

With traditional education programmes, students pay tuition and, typically, do not earn any income while studying — at least, not in their field. In contrast, Apprenticeships provide students with a paycheck during their programme. It's not massive, but it is in their chosen field and it does help them support themselves while gaining valuable experience — which leads us to...

3. With Apprenticeships, there's no student debt

According to the House of Commons, average UK student debt for students starting in 2021/22 is £43,700. In contrast, Apprenticeships run at no cost to learners, being fully funded by the UK Government.

4. Apprenticeships give you the chance to fast-track your progress

Typical university programmes run 3 to 4 years; in contrast, Apprenticeships average 16 months. This means that you can start earning a salary and building your career much sooner than you would with a traditional education.

5. With Apprenticeships, networking is part of the package

Because Apprenticeships are learn-on-the-job, you will be interacting with experienced professionals in your industry from the very beginning. This will give you the chance to develop a professional network that can help you throughout your career. You will also have the opportunity to learn from mentors who can provide you with guidance and advice as you navigate your career path. At Firebrand, learners are mentored in-work, as well as by our supportive success team.

Do you want to work IT?

Consider a Firebrand Apprenticeship.

For the past 13 years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World.

We offer accelerated courses from key players in the tech space, from Microsoft and Amazon to Cisco and IBM, which we embed in award-winning Apprenticeship standards.

Could one of them be right for you?

Check out our latest Apprenticeship vacancies.