Apprenticeship Facts

Here are some facts about apprenticeships that you may not have known before.

Facts about apprentices

1. After an apprenticeship 90% of people stay in employment.

2. Apprenticeships are not just for people who have just left school. They are for anyone over the age of 16, including graduates and managers.

3. 92% of apprentices felt like their apprenticeship  had a positive impact on their career.

4. It is a real job and you will work a minimum of 30 hours a week.

5. People who are completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 in their lifetime.

Facts for employers

1.89% of employers reported that apprenticeships helped their business improve the quality of their product or service.

2. Employers say that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications.

3. 77% of employers say that having apprentices made their business more competitive.

4. 80% or employers report that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover.

5. Apprenticeships enable businesses to grow their skills base resulting in increased profits, lower prices and better products. 

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Famous Former Apprentices

Ever heard a celebrity in an interview say they “just got lucky” or they “had connections” when asked the question “How did you become so successful” or “Where did you start”? Well, what many celebs could say is “I started with an apprenticeship”. 

So here’s a list of famous people we’ve all seen on TV or we’ve all bought from their major corporation and the apprenticeship they started with.

Ever heard of Elvis Presley, Ozzy Osbourne or Eric Clapton? While they all became famous musicians, each one of them began with an apprenticeship in a completely different area. Elvis started out as an apprentice electrician before pursuing his musical talents, Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath began as a toolmaker and Eric Clapton was designing stained glass windows before choosing to become a guitarist.

Similar to these, many other famous names completed an apprenticeship that was the complete opposite of what they made their fortune in; such as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson who was an apprentice tool-worker or actor Sir Michael Caine who started his career as a plumbing apprentice.

Not all famous apprentices changed course so drastically of course, some even progressed through a sector and worked their way to the very top:

Stella McCartney – once an apprentice tailor in Savile Row, now a famous fashion designer.

John Frieda – first working as an apprentice hairdresser then becoming a hairstylist and founder of hair salons and a hair product business.

Ruth Badger – a successful businesswoman who completed a business administration apprenticeship at 16 which set her on the path to where she is now.

People used to associate apprenticeship careers with just construction, electrical and plumbing, then business administration, accountancy and management started getting more recognition however here at Oracle Training Solutions we offer even more. Apprenticeships in the digital sector such as a digital marketer, junior content producer or broadcast production assistant are available as well as the teaching and learning sector so you could become a learning mentor, teaching assistant and more. 

Find a full list of the apprenticeships we offer in various sectors and further role information here and you can employ the next Leonardo da Vinci (apprentice painter of course) or become the next David Beckham. 

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Digital Adaptation

With the current situation going on in the world, many businesses are going digital now – and we are no exception. With most of our work being online, it gives us the freedom to work where we need to, whether that’s in the office, working from home or on the go. And with a lot of other companies and people also being online now, it makes it easier to see others, communicate, and market our services to them, making our jobs easier too! Our main work has been working on the Company Website and the Twitter account, with a Facebook and Linkedin page currently being made and a Email campaign soon underway, but who knows, maybe by the time you’re reading this, it’s all been done and we’re working on something else. 

Everything being online has opened many doors as well, just recently we attended a Webinar, an online Seminar for those who don’t know (websiteweb + seminarinar = webinar, see?), which wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t online. The Webinar itself was about Mailchimp and Email marketing, which is something we are preparing, and there’ll be more opportunities, like Webinars, online that we can use to learn and improve our own skills to improve our marketing, all available because it’s online. Not only one of the benefits of being online mind, if the need arises – say a lockdown or the office can’t be open that day – working from home is a possibility that makes everything easier.

Designing everything digitally has its own problems, but I’d argue that it makes designing so much easier. With everything being up online, I can access current projects and designs when I’m at home from the office, and visa versa, and pick up right where I left off and finish when it can be. It also means I can keep tabs on anything like Twitter and other similar things, and I can upload the infographics from anywhere while saving everything online too.    

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Twitter Tips & Tricks

Whether or not you have just started a twitter account or you’ve had one for years, these tips and tricks shall help you grow your following for your business and grow engagement with your followers.

– Stay consistent with posting

Staying consistent with posting is probably the most important advice to follow. Not staying active will result in people losing interest in your page very quickly and if people start to lose interest it’s likely that they’re going to unfollow you. Constantly posting will bring you to the top of people’s feed which gives you and your brand recognition.

– Use hashtags when posting

Hashtags are a great way to get your posts on different people’s feeds. Trending hashtags are always great to use as people who are not following you can still see your tweet which could lead to them following you and may lead them to buy your product or service. Always keep up with the trending hashtags as that will lead to a wider audience.

– Use logo as your profile picture

What I found when we were setting up our company’s twitter that a lot of companies either didn’t have their logo as their profile picture or the image of their logo wasn’t the correct size for the profile photo. Using your logo means that every time you post other twitter users will see your logo which builds your brand recognition!

– Make posts that are unique to your business

Making unique posts for you and your business is a great way to get what you want to say in a creative way that people don’t just scroll past. Using a bright, colourful poster makes you stand out on twitter user’s feeds. Always use your logo and put contact on your poster to again, try and drill it into your followers’ heads. 

– Add your website to the link address

This is a great way to get people to view your website. Also people might be viewing your twitter page and might be wanting to get more information which is why it’s handy to have the link on your twitter to go straight to your website.

– Engage with people who follow you via polls

Polls is a great way to engage and interact with your twitter followers. Create polls that are suitable for your business. For example if you have a cake business you could ask your followers what their favourite type of cake is? Simple stuff like polls can grow your twitter followers by huge amounts.

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Who You Should Be Following During Covid

With 2021 in sight, there’s a lot more hope than there was at the beginning of the year but these times are still uncertain. And still as confusing and difficult as ever. But for some people, this time of year will be even harder so here’s a list of who you should be following to make sure you’re sticking to the rules but also to see if you can lend a hand.

– Boris Johnson

Whether you watch the news, follow him on social media or see his posts retweeted by friends, the Prime Minister’s updates are usually hard to miss. It’s necessary to keep up to date with new laws and restrictions.

– NHS

Not only does following the NHS on Twitter provide you with updates on the Coronavirus, but also more recently inspirational and heartwarming tweets about the brave NHS workers and the people they’re helping.

– Local news

Following your local news on Twitter can inform you just as much as the news especially if you don’t have the time to watch it everyday so you can be updated on Coronavirus in your area. Similarly you can check the government app to be sure of the tier you’re in and the rules that apply.

https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions

– Local community pages and groups

On Twitter and Facebook you can be part of community pages and groups specific to your area for updates but also to check in on people. These pages can also give you information on how local businesses are coping with the current situation so you can shop local this Christmas and help out.

– Charities

Charities need our help all year round but there’ll be many that are struggling even more at this time so by following them on social media you can be updated on little ways you can lend a hand like donations or getting involved in projects like sending cards to elderly care home residents.

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Guide To My Office Life

Wondering what office life is going to be like? Well, I can tell you what my office life has been like these few weeks! Our office is small and cosy, I work alongside two other apprentices, which you probably know already. A few characters come in and out to do their own work, but there’s consistently 4 people in the office, including me. Our office has a nice layout, we rearranged the layout ourselves to help with being able to communicate effectively, whilst adhering to social distancing. 

My day to day, here at the office, usually consists of checking over the Twitter for any updates, and then tweeting out something, from a statistic infographic I made to retweeting a motivational quote, to keep the account as active as possible, I then check any other accounts like the Facebook page, for example, for anything going on. We then see if the website requires any updates or fixes, once that is out of the way, I start designing some infographics that would be uploaded to Twitter, or any social media we use anyway. I have designed more than just the infographics too, I created the Twitter banner, made changes to the logo and designed the web banner on the website.  

The office layout now is a lot better than what it was, I’m much more of a fan of how it is now, before I was kind of on my own, facing the opposite way to the other apprentices, but now I have a corner slot parallel to the other desks, makes it so much easier to hear and communicate to them. When we rearranged the office, we came up with a few ideas and tried them out, some didn’t work but we found one that did, and we went for that one.

Everyone’s office experiences will be different, but you’ll get used to it and like it eventually, if you don’t already!

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Apprenticeships FAQ

Having trouble finding the answers? We have got you covered. Here are some of the frequently asked questions about apprenticeships.

– How to apply?

Applying for an apprenticeship is different for everyone as companies might only allow people apply through their website or they might allow people to apply through the government’s website. Companies will most likely promote the apprenticeships that they offer on their social media with links to apply so always look on their social media platforms.

– Who is eligible to apply for an apprenticeship?

Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to take an apprenticeship course, no matter how old you are or where you are from.

– Who funds apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are fully funded by the government.

– During COVID?

Apprenticeships during COVID are going to be different for everyone during these times, for me personally everything was basically the same, but different businesses will have different rules for everyone.

– Famous former apprentices?

Famous apprentices include Gordon Ramsey, David Beckham and Elvis Presley. Gordon Ramsey was a catering apprentice before he became a world wide known chef. David Beckham, he was an apprentice in the football youth scheme before he went on to be one of the most famous footballers in the world. Finally, Elvis, Elvis Presley was actually doing an apprenticeship to be an electrician before pursuing his career in music.

– How many levels of apprenticeships are there?

There are 5 levels of apprenticeships, depending on which apprenticeship you do it will be different for everyone.

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Interview Questions You Should Be Asking

Since COVID-19 hit, you could say job-hunting has changed a little with interviews now being completed over Zoom or an increase in phone interviews but the actual format of an interview hasn’t changed. Unfortunately, that includes the awkward tumbleweed moment at the end when you’re expected to have questions. At the time, you’re usually pleased the interview is nearly done but it’s important not to give your potential employer the impression that you’re not committed or that they’ve already taken up enough of your time. 

So here’s 10 possible questions you could reply with when the infamous question arises.

1. What do you think are the most important qualities for a person to excel in this role?

When the time comes to ask a question, it’s obviously easier to say you have no questions but asking this question instantly makes you look like you’re interested in the role you’re applying for and you’re determined to progress.

2. What does a typical day look like?

An easy one to add in if you’re feeling less confident which will prove to the interviewer you’re intrigued by the job but could also settle your nerves if (fingers crossed) you get the job and you’re wondering what you’ll be doing.

3. What are the biggest challenges that someone in this role would face?

This one’s helpful for you as well as your interviewer; it shows them you’re not afraid or naive of the challenges ahead and will also prepare you for later on.

4. Can you give me examples of projects I’d be working on?

As with the other questions, you’d be showing your interviewer you’re interested in what you’d be doing but also suggests you’re aware you’d be working on more than one project at a time and aren’t afraid of multi-tasking.

5. How will I be trained?

Short but sweet, this question gives the impression you’re eager to learn and progress within the position you’re applying for.

6. Where do you see this company in the next few years?

This might seem risky but by taking a polite interest in the company, you’re showing the interviewer you’re ready to be part of the team, whilst subtly implying their company will be onto even better things in the next few years.

7. Who will I work with closely?

You might’ve said in your interview you’re a “team player” or you have experience working in a team but asking this actually shows it, implying you’re eager to meet your potential team and contribute to it.

8. Who will I report to directly?

Not only does this inform you of something you will actually need to know, it also reassures your interviewer that you’re not afraid of figures of authority and understand what your position within the company would be.

9. What are the next steps in the interview process?

As previously mentioned, by this point you could be pleased the interview is nearly over, the nerves can settle and you’ll be out soon but by asking this question it shows you’d be eager to hear from them again and start work.

10. Can I answer any final questions for you?

Given that the purpose of the interview is to find out more about you as a potential employee and to discover if you’d be right for the company, this is a great question to ask. Naturally they’ll have asked all the questions they’d planned to and they’ve probably got a good idea of your skills and experience but this gives them the opportunity to find out a little bit extra or even just to show you’re confident and comfortable talking with them.

Now you can go into your next interview confident you can answer all of their questions with no excuse for saying “No, no questions here” (and cue awkward silence). Hopefully, these have been / will be of some help to you and ensure you give the right impression.

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A Beginner’s Guide To Digital Marketing – By A Beginner

If you’re reading this, you probably have an interest in digital marketing, or an apprenticeship – maybe even both! As someone who’s just starting out as a Digital Marketing Apprentice, let me give you some tips I’ve found about settling in the workplace. First day can make you nervous, but just relax – and if there’s other apprentices you’ll be working alongside, they’ll feel the same way. Be friendly and nice to everyone, and not a lot could go wrong.

Once you’ve settled in, one thing you’ll need to do is concentrate. What I do to concentrate is listen to some music, only having one ear in, to listen to everyone else and to still be able to communicate. Sometimes the best thing to do to concentrate, when you’re struggling to, is to take a breather, and come back to it later. Everyone has their own ways to help them concentrate, you’ll just have to find yours.

What I mainly do, and enjoy doing, is designing the graphics for the Twitter account, how I got round to doing that was coming up with a colour scheme and a pattern design to use. And how I got round to coming up with that; I took the existing logo, made a colour scheme from it, and saw how the shapes in the logo were mainly rounded – and I used those factors to create the patterns we currently use on Twitter. Once you have a pattern and colour scheme down, and once you’ve made your first piece, you can reuse the design you’ve made in multiple creative ways – don’t be afraid to play around and see what you can do.

Speaking of Twitter, you’ll probably find yourself using this as part of Digital Marketing, one of the ways of getting followers at first will be to follow quite a few people, and see who follows back, but with this method, you’ll need to watch the numbers of your following, and focus on following on people who’ll follow back first. Eventually you’ll need to cull the number of following down, but this method should be good for starting you off. Don’t forget to make your Twitter all fancy and good looking, it’ll help! Another important tip is to stay active, make yourself quite a bit of content to use down the line, so you can keep posting at least one thing daily, or however often you’d like to post – main point is to stay active. 

You’ll come across some problems along your way, that’s fine – everyone does, the best thing to do is to try your best to solve these the best way you can, and not be set back by issues arising. Just keep a calm and clear head, and if you need to, just take a step back, take a breather and come back to it later.

Just don’t worry about starting out, everything will be fine and you’ll enjoy yourself at your new apprenticeship!

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Things NOT To Say During An Interview

– Have I got the job yet / So when do I start?

This will automatically send alarm bells in the interviewer’s head, this will make the interviewer find you very arrogant and cocky. You should never assume that you have the job until you are told that you have.

– When will I get a pay rise?

Asking for a pay rise is probably the rudest question that you can ask. You don’t even know if you have got the job yet so you haven’t even proven what you can do yet. The employer will automatically think that you only want the job for money and not because you are passionate about the role that you want.

– When will I get promoted / How soon do you promote employees?

Again, you haven’t proven yourself yet to the employer and you don’t even know if you have gotten the job. Also when you get promoted your salary will increase so it will make the interviewer question whether you’re even interested in working here or are you just wanting money.

– How much time do I get off?

Asking how much time you get off before you’ve even been offered the job will appear rude and may instantly put the interviewer off employing you. You should wait until you have been told that you have the job before you start asking questions about your time off.

– What does the company do?

If you don’t even know what the company does, you should not be at the interview. If you go into that interview room and ask “what does the company do” there is no chance that you are going to be offered the job. Employers always expect people to do their research on their company before coming to the interview.

– I didn’t like my last boss

Already complaining about your past employers may put off the employer that you are going to. This may make the interviewer question if you bad mouth them (the manager) if they employ you and may question whether you were difficult to manage in your past job.

– Sorry I’m late

It goes without saying, punctuality is key. Turning up late to an interview will make the employer believe that you may turn up to work late each day which will most likely result in the employer offering the job to someone else.

– I’ll just take this call

Your phone should always be turned off or put on silent before you get to an interview. The interviewer may think that you are being rude and more interested in what your friends say rather than what the employer is telling you. Which will instantly send alarm bells in the interviewers head.

– I don’t have any questions for you

You should always have questions prepared to ask the interviewer. By doing this it shows that you want to know more about the company and that you are really interested in getting this job. By not asking questions, this may make the interviewer think that you aren’t really interested in the company and what they offer. 

– I just want something temporary

Saying that you want something temporary to the interviewer will instantly put them off employing you as they will think that you’re not going to really take the job seriously and are going to leave at any chance that another opportunity comes along.

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