Being an Apprentice

As an apprentice you will enter into an agreement with your company to train, become qualified and adhere to the company procedures, including the Health and Safety policies. An apprenticeship scheme will be an integral part of this agreement and for this you will participate in a defined programme of training that will be both on the job and in a college environment.

The initial basis of the training will be to achieve the following:

• the basic skills of your chosen occupation (e.g. bricklaying, roofing, plastering etc) to achieve a Level 2 qualification.
• key skills
• employer’s rights and responsibilities
• health and safety awareness
• work-based evidence.

This will give you a firm basis of skills and knowledge on which you can apply the practical principles of conservation, restoration, repair and maintenance.

You should then look to take on the Advanced Apprenticeship programme which will take you to the Level 3 S/NVQ standard. This will be achieved via college training and in house training focusing on heritage specific skills and knowledge.

An employer will help to fund your apprenticeship training and in return, will expect commitment from you to your training and the company. Show talent, commitment, a willingness to learn and get qualified and your employer will support you and help you develop your skills.

Your aim should be to obtain the Heritage Skills NVQ Level 3 for your chosen craft specialism. Achievement of this qualification will enable you to apply for a CSCS Heritage Skills Card, which you can use to demonstrate your competence to potential clients or employers.