Jobs, training and apprenticeships

Whether you choose paid work or want to volunteer your time for a good cause, working is great for both your mental and your physical health. Working can also help you to gain independence, make friends and discover new talents.

Access to work is a fund provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. It can help you get or stay in work, and the support offered is based upon your individual needs. The money doesn’t have to be paid back and it won’t affect other benefits.

It can help with such things as:

• special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
• help getting to and from work

You also have a right to “reasonable adjustments” at work. Employers (the person you are working for) must make reasonable adjustments (changing the way they normally do things), so that people with a disability can work there like anybody else. 

Visit the Government website or the Preparing for Adulthood website for more information about the Access to Work fund. 

Mencap’s employment services support people with a learning disability to develop the skills and confidence needed to get a job. If you have a learning disability and are looking for work, Mencap's Employment Services may be able to help.

Visit Mencap's website or call 0808 808 1111 for support with finding training or a job

An internship is a period of work experience offered by an employer to give students and graduates exposure to the working environment, often within a specific industry, which relates to their field of study.

Internships can be as short as a week or as long as twelve months. They can be paid or voluntary; however, before you start an internship it is important to know your rights with regards to getting paid.

Internships can be done in a range of sectors, including sales, marketing, engineering, graphic design, management, I.T. and many, many more.

Through an internship you will develop a variety of soft skills, including communication skills, personal effectiveness, presentation skills, creative problem solving and influencing skills.

Action for Disability provide information, support, and guidance for those looking for work. Their Supported Internships programme has great success in enabling young people with learning disabilities to gain work training, sometimes leading to employment.

Visit their website for more information here.

A supported internship is for those who:

• are aged 16-24 with an Education Health and Care Plan
• want to complete a six-month work placement
• will be able to travel and work independently after the programme
• want to find paid work
• want to develop maths and English that will help with finding a job

What is a Supported internship?
Supported internships are work-based learning placements within mainstream employment settings. The aim is to secure a job at the end of the placement. Placements should last over 6 months and normally would be at least 20 hours per week.

• Supported internships can be a good way of having a study programme that helps you get a job
• Supported internships are different because you can do most of the learning at work
• You may spend some time at college each week, but most of your time will be spent on a work placement
• Supported Internships run from Monday to Friday during term time
• A supported Internship could be the right choice for you if you know you learn best ‘by doing’
• The most important thing is that you really want to get paid work
• Supported Internships are all about working toward a paid job

You can find out more about Supported Internships:

• From school
• From college
• From your social worker
• Your local authority’s local offer
• By visiting the National Careers Service website 

When should I tell people I want a Supported Internship?
As soon as you think you might want a supported internship you should talk to your teacher or a parent/carer.

This could be at your Year 9 or 10 review at school, when you are thinking about work and work experience.

How do I know a Supported Internship programme is good?

Good, supported internships will:

• Have a clear information about the internship and how it works
• Have a way for you to talk to someone who has done a supported internship and find out how it worked for them.
• Spend time with you and your family making sure that the internship is right for you and that you really do want to get paid work
• Have a job coach to help you think about your skills and what you want to do
• Keep checking that things are going well

How can I get the funding, and will it affect my benefits?

• If you are aged 16 to 24 years old and have an Education, Health and Care Plan, your local authority can provide the funding for the programme.
• You can get extra money called Access to Work. This will need to be applied for, and this money is to support you to go to work.
• You will still be able to get benefits for your day-to-day life.
• If you want more information about benefits and funding, you should discuss this with your social worker. They will also be able to calculate how paid work will affect your benefits.

Upon completion of your Supported internship, there are different exciting pathways you could choose as the next step in your career development. One very popular option is to embark on an Apprenticeship programme, which you can read about in the next section.

Apprenticeships are a combination of studying and training whilst working. There are different levels of apprenticeships you can do (we go into this a bit further down), but if you decide to do an apprenticeship you will:

• work alongside experienced staff
• gain skills specific to the job you’re doing
• earn a wage and get holiday pay
• get time for study related to the job you’re doing

Apprenticeships are structured programmes that teach you the skills, knowledge, and behaviours you need to perform well in your job. They allow you to learn practical skills in the workplace, build up valuable knowledge and skills, gain qualifications and earn a wage at the same time.

As with a supported internship, you will be based in a workplace for much of the time, as most of the training takes place on the job. You will usually attend off-the-job training once a week and you could be working towards a nationally recognised vocational qualification, such as National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), or a certificate of achievement.

Maths and English skills

Maths and English skills are important to employers and to thrive in the workplace. They are an integral part of an Apprenticeship programme and all apprentices without a naturally recognised qualification at GCSE level will be fully supported to ensure they achieve these during their learning programme.

The City of London will provide additional training courses and learning support to help the apprentice to upskills in readiness to gain these recognised qualifications, known as functional skills. Apprentices will complete an initial assessment to identify what functional skills level is the most appropriate starting point and an expert tutor will help the apprentice to develop to the level required to complete their Apprenticeship programme.

How much can you earn?

National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage (NAMW) is currently £4.81 per hour. There is no maximum wage when completing an Apprenticeship - apprentices can earn as much as the employer is willing to pay.

How long do Apprenticeships last?

All apprenticeships must last a minimum of 12 months, but some can take up to four years to complete.

The length of an Apprenticeship varies depending on the starting point of the apprentice, the qualification and level being obtained and the industry sector of the apprenticeship.

Passing your Apprenticeship

Throughout the apprenticeship, apprentices build up a wealth of knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) that help them to thrive in their chosen career. An apprenticeship is based around modules that help the apprentice to achieve these KSBs. Once the tutor has verified that these KSBs are achieved, the apprentice will complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) with a nationally recognised awarding body. EPAs vary per apprenticeship programme, but typically include a professional discussion on the apprentice’s portfolio and/or project and a written test; successful EPA will lead to a grade of either a ‘pass’, a ‘merit’ or a ‘distinction’. The tutor will ensure that each apprenticeship is fully equipped to achieve the highest success and to gain a nationally recognised qualification that can open new doors with employers and help a career to flourish.

Additional Support and Networking

During an apprenticeship programme, apprentices have a variety opportunity to receive individualised support and to network with others. To help personal development and progress, a dedicated tutor will be available to provide one-to-one support with any aspect of the programme; this will be available either in person, remotely or through an e-portfolio system. Regular reviews will take place with ythe employer, the tutor and the apprentice to discuss progress, targets and next step workplace opportunities that can facilitate development.

There are weekly opportunities to network with other apprentices to share experiences and to provide peer support. Other opportunities include learner forums and steering groups so the City of London ASES team can hear your views on how to further improve the apprenticeship experience. There will also be an opportunity to join the National Society of Apprentices (NSOA) where you can network on a national level, share views and take part in events.

What apprenticeships are available to me?

There are over 200 different types of apprenticeships available in a wide range of sectors:

• Business administration
• Customer Service
• Hospitality and catering
• Fishmonger
• Health, public services, and social care
• Education and training
• Information, communication, and technology (ICT)
• Construction
• Arts, media, and publishing
• Leisure, travel, and tourism
• Retail and commercial enterprise
• Agriculture, horticulture, and animal care
• Engineering and manufacturing technologies

There are endless career opportunities under each sector.

I have an Education Health and Care Plan, what support will I receive during the apprenticeship?

Young people can retain their Education Health and Care plan whilst on an Apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are funded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) who are committed to making sure that everyone has the opportunity to do an Apprenticeship, including those with special educational needs or disabilities. This means making sure the right level of support is available to remove barriers to education and training so that learners can make the most of their potential. Learning support funding will also provide funding for you to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments to help you do the job.

Further information:

The Government Apprenticeship website has lots of examples of different types of apprenticeship and videos of different apprentice experiences.

All About School Leavers helps school leavers get jobs and understand the career paths available to them. Here, you’ll find information on the different levels of apprenticeship—Intermediate, Advanced, Higher and Degree—as well as the latest school leaver job news and advice to help guide you on your career journey.

You can also find information about apprenticeships at others organisations, including the following:

• Transport for London (TFL)

Traineeships offer training and work experience to give you the skills and confidence to get a job or apprenticeship, as well as improving your maths and English along the way. They can last between six weeks and six months.

You can apply if you are:

• eligible to work in England
• unemployed and have little or no work experience
• aged 16-24 (19-24 on Mencap's programme) and qualified up to and including Level 3 (A-level equivalent)

There are three main parts of a traineeship:

• Getting you ready for work and feeling confident
• A work placement
• English and maths support if you haven’t yet got your GCSEs at grade C or 4, or a Functional Skills equivalent (Functional Skills are an alternative to English and maths GCSE and give you skills and understanding to live and work confidently and independently)

The Government Traineeship website allows you to search for traineeships near you.

Supported internships are a type of study programme that help people aged between 16 and 24 to get a job. What makes them different is that young people do most of their learning at work, this is often referred to as ‘on the job’ learning. A supported internship could be right for you if you know you learn best by ‘doing’.

You will work with a job coach (someone who will support you to feel confident doing the work). Supported internships last at least six months and whilst you won’t get paid, by the end of six months you should be ready to move into a paid job because of the skills and experience you have gained. All supported internships should flexible so that they meet your needs and the employers needs.

Volunteering is considered to be work experience, and can help you get into paid work. It can be good if you’re not sure what you want to do and want to try a few different jobs for a short period of time. 

Volunteering can also:

• Give you the chance to learn new skills and practice existing skills
• Make you more confident
• Make your CV stand out
• Provide references for your CV
• Lead to new interests and routines you may not have thought about before

Prepare, prepare, prepare! Learn as much as you can about the job you are applying for. Make sure you understand what the company does and what the job will need you to do. Be ready to talk about your skills and strengths and why you want the job. Practise answering these questions with someone you know.

• Bring a copy of your CV
  It can help you to remember important things like your skills and strengths
• Dress smart
  Wear work appropriate clothes like a shirt
• Be on time
  Better yet, arrive 10 minutes before your interview time to show you are good at keeping to time. Give yourself extra time to get to the interview, especially if you’re taking public transport
• Technology
  If you have a mobile phone, make sure it’s turned off or on silent and don't use it during the interview unless it's an accessibility aid
• Be polite
  When you first meet the interviewer, say hello, introduce yourself, and shake his/her hand if you are comfortable to do so
• After the interview
  Say thank you and, when you get home, send a thank you email to the person who interviewed you

Interviewers are not allowed to ask you about your disability and you do not need to tell the interviewer about your disability. It is up to you if you want to tell the interviewer that you have a disability. If you need an accommodation at the workplace, you can wait until after you’re offered the job to request the accommodation

For more information about interview tips, visit: Interview advice | National Careers Service

Your CV is a document that tells an employer why they should give you the job.

Use it to show off all the best things about yourself!

To help, we have put some information together about what all CVs should include:

• Contact details
  A phone number and an email address so employers can get hold of you.
• A short personal statement
  This is the first thing an employer will read. Remember to put what you are good at, as well as the type of work you are looking for
• Work experience
  Don't forget to include voluntary and unpaid roles. They should be listed in date order from most recent, with the name of the employer, job title and the dates you worked there. You can also include a bullet pointed list of your key responsibilities or tasks in the role
• Education
  List your qualifications. You should write the dates, subjects and what grades you achieved
• Other training or personal achievements
  This is your chance to show off! It could be anything from a local art competition, driving licence or dance medals
• References
  If you are offered a job, the employer will usually ask for two references which can be previous employers, a teacher or a job coach. You don’t need to put their contacts on your CV, but it’s good to have them ready for when the employer asks for them

Your parents, family members or even friends can help you find a job. But there are also some organisations that are set up just to help people find work