If you’re aged 16 and because of your age, you don’t have quite the right skills, experience and level of qualification to do the job you’d like to do or you’re not quite ready to apply for an apprenticeship, then doing a traineeship is a great option.A traineeship is an education and training programme which is especially geared towards getting motivated young people into work or on to an apprenticeship scheme. They’re designed to give 16-24 year-olds the skills and work experience employers are looking for, as well as GCSEs or Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths and ICT which will give young people the appropriate preparation they’ll need to progress on to doing an apprenticeship, applying for jobs and entering the world of work with all the right skills and qualifications.A traineeship can last up to 6 months and you can apply if you’re aged 16 to 24, eligible to work in England, if you’re unemployed and have little or no work experience and if you’re qualified below Level 3. If you need it, you’ll get help with English and maths and you’ll be sent on a work experience placement. You won’t be paid on your placement but your employers may sometimes pay your expenses for things like travel and meals.To find a traineeship in your area you can go to the Government’s website, where there’s a traineeship search tool you can use once you’ve registered: www.gov.uk/find-traineeship
