Advice and Support During Your Apprenticeship

Author: Emma Jones

After you have been accepted onto an apprenticeship you will still need advice and support. As you get used to the job, work your way through the training and balance the course work you are likely to have questions and concerns.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of people out there to give you advice and the worst thing you can do is keep quiet.

On-Site Support

Getting stuck into the world of work can be a daunting experience and it can take a while to get used to. You may find the training demanding or just have questions about how the industry works. Whatever your concerns are, there should be on-site support to offer you advice.

If there is no formal system then ask one of your colleagues or your manager. They all had to start out at some point and will understand your position. Helping you work better helps the company and your team so don’t be afraid to ask.

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Study Support

As well as training on the job you will have to complete coursework as part of your apprenticeship. If you are not naturally academic or don’t work well in the classroom then you may find this element difficult. Your course tutors are there to help you and offer any support that you need to qualify.

Try not to be intimidated by the thought of written work and be honest about your weaknesses so they can help you accordingly. They can also offer advice on how to mange your time so that you fit in your job and your study more easily.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Asking For Help

There is no point having advice and support available to you if you don’t make the most of it. An apprenticeship is all about learning and training so that you can gain the skills you need to excel in your chosen profession. To do this, you need to feel confident in what you are doing and understand it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Nobody is going to think less of you for doing so as it is much better to ask than to guess and make a mistake or drop out.

Career Advice

As you near the end of your apprenticeship you may start wondering about what is next. Would you like to get a different job in the same field? Are your skills transferable? Are you thinking about going to further training? The best way to answer all your questions is to talk to a career advisor.

Your college or local jobcentre will have somebody available to help you and give you all the information that you need. They will be able to sit down with you, work out what your options are and give you advice about what to do next.

There are a lot of people who are available to offer you advice and support during your apprenticeship. Don’t be afraid to ask for help as suffering in silence won’t help anyone. If you need help on the job then turn to colleagues or you manager for on site support. If it is the study element that concerns you then talk to your tutors. As you near the end you may also want career advice so turn to the professionals to help you.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Apprenticeship Eligibility Checker lets you tell us about your situation and find out which UK apprenticeships you qualify for and how to apply. Try it now →

11 questions

Ask An Apprenticeship a Question

Jules 21/02/2023 at 7:31 am

My Grandson has been on an Apprenticeship for nearly two years and should qualify in April.
He sometimes works 60 hours a week some weeks 2 or 3 days and sometimes no work at all and is struggling to live.
Is this allowed by the employer when he has agreed to this Apprenticeship as it seems unfair and he is now told that he will have no work until he completes his CSCS card although the site he is supposed to need this for he has been working on for last 18 mths or so off and on anyway!
Advice needed please as we feel the Employer is not sticking to the Apprentice rules????

Trudy 01/09/2019 at 10:28 pm

My son is currently on the last month of an 18 month digital marketing apprenticeship but the firm have made no indication of whether they are going to offer hom at job or not.
They have also not given him any progress meetings throughout his time or advice.
If he is not offered a job does he have any way of complaining that they have not really treated him fairly

Deno 28/04/2018 at 7:32 pm

My son is completing a level 2 apprenticeship and he is getting very down about the coursework. The working day saps all of his energy as he is working as hard as everyone else in the office, just paid little and has to do coursework. Should some time off during the working week be allowed to let him complete the coursework as he does need the weekends to recharge ready for the week. What happens if the coursework is not completed which Is what he is contemplating. Please advise.

AnApprenticeship Editor 16/02/2018 at 10:53 am

Your son would either have to complain directly to his employer, or complain to his apprenticeship provider, or via which

Jue 15/02/2018 at 1:26 pm

Hi, my son is currently on an apprenticeship. it was originally for 2 years but the college changed it so it was extended to 4 years. He is currently on his 4th year and he feels very let down by the system as no work assessment has been carried out since last year towards his NVQ and he is extremely worried that he won't have time to complete this part of his apprenticeship within the timeframe. He is 21 next week and feels that due to the college changing the way the qualifications he's wasted 2 years. Also the company he works for is are making people redundant and he isn't sure if he has a secure future with the firm. Our main concern is the NVQ work assessment. He believes he has nearly 2 years worth to do and no one at his work place or the college seem to be doing anything about it. Please advise.

AnApprenticeship Editor 04/01/2018 at 10:15 am

Your grandson's eligibility for housing benefit may depend upon his age and where he is living i.e someone under the age of 35 may only be able to claim for a bedsit or a room in shared house. For this your grandson would have to speak to a Jobcentre Plus benefits advisor directly. It is unlikely your grandson would get help with money for bills. However, he may also wish to ask about the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card

Grandma 03/01/2018 at 3:00 pm

My 24 year old grandson is currently serving an apprenticeship. He ha lived away from home since he has
16 and life is a struggle for him financially. He is presently sharing a flat. Is he likely to be able to claim any housing benefit or allowance towards his bills, travel expenses etc?

J 17/02/2017 at 10:33 am

I am on a Level 3 Apprenticeship with a further education college (the college is my employer and my training provider). It is my understanding that I should be allowed time away from my immediate workplace to complete study needed for my qualification. Since starting my apprenticeship in September 2016, I have not been given any time away from my immediate working area, with the exception of meeting with my assessor once a month for around 30 minutes.

When I raised the issue with my assessor, they said to me that the Guided Learning Hours are met in a variety of ways throughout my working week, such as team meetings and 1-1 meeting with my manager discussing workload for the upcoming week. I don't believe that this is right. I am having to spend my evenings and weekends teaching myself the knowledge that I need for my coursework, and then use even more of that time putting the work together. I don't think that this is the way an Apprenticeship works, any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Justin

Burt 07/04/2016 at 2:40 pm

Hi
I need some advice, I am undertaking an apprenticeship and I am released every thursday to attend college till 12 noon then released for the rest of the working day (5pm) to complete coursework. It is the easter break and we have the thursday off, I used today to complete coursework however my boss is putting me under stress as I havent turned up to work. I have made him aware that I am completing coursework. His reply was that coursework is to be completed in the evening and weekends but surely that would mean that I am working much more than I should be as I have no mental ability after work as I have been working that whole day. Weekends are my only bit of rest. So my question is coursework technically work as I need to be released? Would this be unfair dismissal if he fires/sanctions me?
Thanks

AnApprenticeship Editor 17/02/2016 at 2:07 pm

It depends what sort of apprentice your son is undertaking and what is laid out in your son's contract with regards to hours worked and whether there is a clause allowing his employer to change contracted hours. I think in this case you should contact ACAS for further advice.

Graham 16/02/2016 at 9:32 pm

My Son started an apprenticeship last year and the company he works for initially worked a 36 hour working week. Since then the company went on short time, firstly they stopped working Friday (4 hours) then more recently have stopped working Monday (8 hours). Obviously this means my Son now has an apprenticeship of only 24 hours per week. What's more he goes to college 1 Monday in every 2 weeks which his Boss says he will not be paid for as this is one of the days the company has dropped. Surely this cannot be acceptable. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Graham

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