What is an apprenticeship?

What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are a popular study option and a great way to learn, gain skills and qualifications while working, and earning.  You can start work with an employer and take up an apprenticeship at the same time, or start one with your current employer. 

How an apprenticeship programme works

On an apprenticeship programme, you’re employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification – usually for the equivalent of one day a week either at a college, training centre or virtually. By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll  have gained the skills and knowledge needed to progress in your chosen career. What you’ll learn will be tailored to your role and the apprenticeship you decide to take up.  However, apprentices in every role follow an approved study programme, which means you’ll gain a nationally-recognised qualification at the end of your apprenticeship.

As well as specific knowledge related to your role, you’ll be constantly developing your transferable skills, which are highly valued by Salesforce employers. Solid  communication skills, teamwork and problem solving are all as critical to the success of Salesforce projects as technical knowledge.  You’ll learn this and much more through the Business Analyst apprenticeship. 

Length of an apprenticeship

The length of your apprenticeship will depend on a number of factors, such as the level of the apprenticeship and your contracted working hours. The BA apprenticeship is  a level 4 qualification (foundation level degree) and about 18 months, although can be lengthened on a pro rata basis if you are not working full time.  

Age Limit

There’s no upper age limit on being an apprentice. As long as you have the right credentials, you’ll be eligible to apply for your chosen apprenticeship. See our eligibility checker below.

What is the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship?

The terms ‘apprenticeship’ and ‘internship’ are sometimes mistakenly used. To ensure you’re applying for the right positions, it’s important to understand the differences between these opportunities.

Apprenticeships are:

• formal learning programmes and as such, you and your employer will sign contracts.
• long-term and take between one to four years to complete.
• more suited to those with a clear idea of what sector they’d like to work in and what career path they’d like to follow
• designed to provide specific work-based training. Apprentices learn by actually doing the job.
• a way to gain formal qualifications such as NVQs, foundation degrees and technical certificates
• paid – you’ll earn while you learn.

Internships are:

• informal arrangements as more often than not no employment contracts are signed
• short-term, limited periods lasting between one week and 12 months
• geared towards providing an insight to those who may be unsure of what career direction to take
• work-based learning opportunities, which focus more on supplying interns with transferrable skills and experience for their CV rather than job-specific skills or formal qualifications
• temporary, with no guarantee of employment on completion.

44% of UK managers believe that apprenticeship programmes are the best way to encourage diversity in the workplace.

Source: Marketing Week

What is the Supermums Apprenticeship programme and what will I learn?

Supermums empowers Salesforce professionals to accelerate their Salesforce career with our range of courses, and we are delighted to deliver this formal qualification in partnership with Learning Curve Group and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and developed in partnership with the British Computing Society.

The course will prepare you with the theory and practical skills within your workplace to become a qualified Level 4 Business Analyst over 18 months whilst also completing 2 further Salesforce Consultancy Certifications including Service Cloud and Sales Cloud or NPSP..

A Level 4 qualification is aligned to the first year of a Batchelors Degree at University.

Are you eligible for the Supermums Apprenticeship Programme?

• Do you live in England?
• Are you employed in a permanent role?
• Do you already have the Salesforce Administrator certificate or the equivalent experience?
• Is Business Analyst built into your existing role but with no formal training or qualifications?
• Would you like to add new skills to your CV to further your career or ask for that promotion?
• If you are an employer, do you want to upskill existing talent instead of recruiting someone new?

If you answered YES to any of these questions then download an information pack with full details about the apprenticeship programme and details of how to apply.