Support your post-16 conversations

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job where people can learn, gain experience, and get paid. They will be an employee with a contract and time for holiday, as well as gain the skills and knowledge needed for their chosen profession.

When they take on an apprenticeship with us, not only do they get paid whilst theylearn, but their qualification is also 100% funded by us through the apprenticeship levy. Meaning, they earn a wage and they will have no debt at the end of the studies.

Most apprenticeships last between one and four years. It depends on their choice, its level and their experience. The government and the chosen employer will fund the apprenticeship together.

To have an apprenticeship, the person must:

• be 16 or over
• not already be in full-time education
• live in England

To find out more about apprenticeships, vist out apprenticeship page. 

Volunteering

A volunteer is someone offering time, skills, or knowledge, freely and by choice, for no pay, to help others. Volunteers help in many ways. There are many roles, including response, clinical, befriending on the wards and supporting staff. Volunteering opportunities also include gardening, shop assistants and administrative areas.

Each health and care organisation in Northamptonshire has a volunteering programme and the websites will include details of the process and commitment expected. Usually you must be 16+ and able to spare a couple of hours every week over a set period. For some roles you must be 18-years-old. From there the process is simple:

1. Find a role you’re interested in or contact us
2. Fill out the organisations volunteer application form
3. Meet the organisation staff member for an informal chat
4. Complete a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check where appropriate
5. Provide the organisation with contact details for references
6. Complete any training needed for the volunteer role
7. Sign a volunteer agreement
8. Start your volunteering placement

To find out more about volunteering, vist out volunteering page

Or you can see wider volunteering opportunities in Northamptonshire by visiting Volunteering Passport website below.

To find out more about volunteering passport, please click here.

Getting experience

Getting experience is an opportunity for young people, those looking for a career change or those who are unemployed to gain experience in a workplace and learn about a role or organisation. It provides you with useful skills, experience and knowledge which can help you gain a job. We offer virtual and face-to-face sessions, depending on safeguarding, clinical environment, and work pressures. Our numbers are limited for our face-to-face offers and only available to Northamptonshire residents.

To find out more about getting experience, vist out getting experience page

T Levels

T Levels are a two-year qualification. They are an alternative to A levels, other post-16 courses or an apprenticeship. They offer a mix of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience. An industry placement makes up at least 315 hours (around 45 days).

After your GCSEs, T Levels give the student the knowledge and experience to get straight into employment, an apprenticeship or higher education.

The student will spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% on a 45-day placement with an employer to give them the skills and knowledge companies look for.

EQUIVALENT TO 3 A LEVELS

One T level takes two years of full-time study and is equivalent to 3 A levels.

To find out more about T Levels, vist out T Levels page

Not sure? Choose by subject!

We understand students may not know what their next step is, whether it be staying in education or starting work. It is important that they choose what is right for them and that their decisions are based on the up to date and correct information.

To help give them an idea of options that may be available to them, please use our 'subject to career' tool which will show possible career options depending on what thry have studied or are planning to study. For each career listed for the subjects, click on them to take them to more information about the role.

Visit our subject to career tool here

Post 16 video animation from Department for Education