Careers advice for schools: a guide for teachers and advisors
Why choose an engineering apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are ideal for students who prefer a practical route over traditional, purely academic study, or those who want to enter the workforce while gaining respected qualifications. An engineering apprenticeship offers a real, paid job with structured, world-class training.
Key benefits for your students include:
- Accelerated career progression: apprentices often climb the career ladder faster than graduates from other routes due to their extensive workplace experience.
- Zero student debt: tuition and training fees are fully funded by the employer and the government.
- Real-world experience: students develop vital workplace behaviours alongside technical knowledge from day one.
How you can help your students navigate their options
Because engineering apprenticeships at the AMRC Training Centre are highly competitive, early preparation is key. You can support your students by helping them find the facts they need.
Encourage them to ask critical questions about their choices:
- What is the specific job role being offered?
- What qualification will they gain upon completion?
- Where and how will the training be delivered?
- What are the provider's achievement and progression rates?
- When are the application deadlines?
Supporting high-quality applications
Our recruitment standards match those of our world-leading employer partners. To secure an interview, applicants must submit a high-quality application that clearly demonstrates their skills, knowledge, and interest in engineering.
Advise your students to provide concrete examples as proof of their capabilities. Successful applications are forwarded directly to employers for shortlisting.
Choosing STEM subjects for STEM careers
Good quality advice and guidance at age 16 is critical to making successful choices at age 18. For students wishing to enter competitive engineering careers or degree apprenticeships, studying and achieving in STEM subjects is highly recommended.
Recommended pathways
If your students are choosing A-level or level 3 options, we suggest grouping related subjects together.
Ideal choices include:
- Mathematics and further mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Product design
Alternative routes
It is possible to enter a STEM career without traditional STEM subjects, but it may restrict a student's entry level. For example, an applicant without a strong maths or science background may need to start at an advanced level 3 apprenticeship rather than moving directly onto a higher or degree level apprenticeship. We strongly advise students to research degree and higher apprenticeship entry criteria before selecting their sixth form or college subjects.
Help students identify their engineering pathway
When working with students interested in the sector, the vital questions to ask are: "What kind of engineering appeals to you?" and "Do you want to design, make, or fix things?"
You can visit our design, make, fix section to help your students identify which of our courses perfectly align with their natural interests and skills.
How the AMRC Training Centre can support your school
We offer a range of services to help you expose your students to the opportunities within advanced manufacturing:
- Presentations and assemblies: we can deliver engaging presentations about engineering apprenticeships to your students, parents, or teaching staff.
- Careers events and job fairs: our team regularly attends school careers fairs to speak directly with students.
- Mock interviews: we support school mock interview days to help students practice their technique.
- Open events and job fairs: we host regular events at our centre to help students research the industry.
- Training centre tours: we organise targeted tours of our state-of-the-art workshops (please note these are limited due to teaching commitments and capacity restrictions).
Next steps
There are many ways to engage with us including booking a school presentation, inquiring about a tour, or requesting resources for your careers department.
