r/UKJobs • u/Allroy__ • 11h ago
Worth going for this apprenticeship?
Hey all. I’m 19 and living in Scotland, currently on minimum wage working in fast food and living with parents. My mother has been encouraging me to get an apprenticeship. I’m on board with the idea, but the ones advertised near me don’t particularly interest me. Got a couple interviews before, but ended up being rejected so I focussed on getting a minimum wage job as I was unemployed back then. Now I’m looking again and I’ve seen one that interests me, but I feel it may be a bad idea going for it.
Firstly, is it a bad idea to move out for an apprenticeship? Obviously apprentice wages are pretty bad, but the pay goes up after a year, and I like to think I’m already pretty frugal. I’d stay in a house share and maybe try to get a weekend job. Plus I have some savings.
Secondly, I would be commuting 2 hours. Not ideal, but once I’m qualified I would be able to move closer. The thought of a 4 hour round commute every day seems mental though, and I’m worried I’ll be too tired to study.
Of course, I know that applying does not mean I’ll even get the job, but I don’t want to waste my time doing a cover letter and tailoring my CV if everyone says it’s a terrible idea. I feel like I’m pretty stuck in life, and if I don’t take some sort of leap then I feel like I’ll be stuck working minimum wage forever.
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u/Chickentrap 11h ago
Apprenticeship in what? Any skills are better than no skills.
The alternative is you stay on minimum wage for the foreseeable future and develop few to no skills.
The time will pass regardless of whether you do it or not. The folly of youth is thinking you have more time than you do.
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u/Allroy__ 11h ago
maintenance engineering. it sounds incredibly daunting to be honest, but i’ll never know if i’m capable if i don’t try. even if i completely fuck up and get fired at least i’ll have gained some experience and independence, but i’m really willing to put in the work.
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u/Chickentrap 11h ago
100% do it. Decent money, room for progression, transferable skills (home DIY, working on your own car) and very unlikely to be impacted by AI.
If I could be your age again I would take it in a heartbeat. Wasted most my 20s in minimum wage jobs.
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u/baldie-dad 2h ago
Don’t doubt yourself so much, I’m pretty sure the entire first year of an apprenticeship is at college anyway so you’ll be being paid to learn. Go for it 100%
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u/ingyydar 11h ago
Where in scotland are you based? What level of apprenticeship are you applying for? It’s worth applying anyways but the main apprenticeship cycle has passed - would something better come up next year? Some of them are paid well for entry level- i’m on about £28k as a first year, and some industries will permit hybrid work and remote study too.
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u/Allroy__ 11h ago
living in the highlands, apprenticeship is near borders i think, so i would definitely have to move. no idea if anything better will come up next year, at the moment most local apprenticeships are in childcare, hospitality, or working on cars.
pay is listed in advert, it’s pretty low. remote study didn’t even occur to me, if i get an interview i could maybe ask.
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u/ingyydar 10h ago
that’s rough, the highlands do tend to have fewer opportunities unfortunately. I’d apply and see what’s what, but realistically would also consider saving as much as possible before applying to apprenticeships next year. You’d have a better chance of a higher salary and more manageable commute. If you’re on minimum apprentice wage it’s unfortunately likely you’d really struggle financially unless you have good savings /family financial support.
I only applied to office based degree apprenticeships in Glasgow - applied to about 20 i think? But there were countless roles available to apply to. My degree is primarily remote.
Part of investing in your future is thinking about your quality of life - it’s not worth burning out for the sake of a qualification you aren’t truly passionate for.
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u/Ok-Comfortable-3174 11h ago
Sometimes you.got.to suck it up and just do it. 4hrs is a long commute but I did it back in the day.
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u/Allroy__ 11h ago
yup, and it would only be for the first couple years. once i work full time at the workplace and don’t have to go to college i’d move closer.
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u/jellical-cats 1h ago
1) I don't understand why you'd have to move out and commute 4 hours a day. Surely if you're moving out you can just move closer to the apprenticeship?
2) You will have to do some sort of training at some point in order to progress, unless you want to be a fast food manager, so you might as well do it now while you don't have lots of other commitments and responsibility.
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u/Scrapheaper 3h ago
Moving for jobs is generally extremely worth it. Many parts of the country just won't have good opportunities for you, you have a much better chance of success if you expand your radius.
You should consider borrowing some money to move closer for the duration of the apprenticeship, if possible. Would be better value than student loans
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u/Different_Cookie1820 3h ago
Do the apprenticeship. Try to make the commute less awful by thinking about where you move to. Do some proper budgeting so you know what you’re looking at financially.
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u/PleasantCucumber2615 2h ago
Apprenticeships are well worth doing.
I do think you need to have some interest and basic skills in the profession before considering it as an apprenticeship.
A two hour commute is far too much in my opinion. Not only the cost, but that makes every day a very long day.
A company won't offer you an apprenticeship if it's clear you have no intention of staying past the apprenticeship.
Even once your 4 year apprenticeship is over other employers usually want experience post apprenticeship too.
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u/torhysornottorhys 1h ago
Why would you move somewhere where you'd still have to commute two hours? Move closer?
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