My son is due to leave school this summer and wants to train to be a bricklayer. Would it be better for him to be an apprentice (if he could get a firm to take him on) or to go to college and do the exams and practical there? (They will help him get a job at the end) Anybody done anything similar that can give us some advice would be much appreciated.
I would say, get an apprenticeship if he can and attend college either as block release or one day a week , there is no substitute for on-site experience, he will learn so much, being with a good brickie, and he will never be out of work, wish him good luck, we need more youngsters that want to learn coming into the building trade, Ray
We do apprenticeships at the college I work for, they start off coming to college for their basic training for the first year and then in the second year, we help them to get an apprenticeship with a local firm where they come to college one day per week for an advanced qualification and the rest is learnt 'on the job' for the other 4 days.
www.bconstructive.co.uk
He needs to register with the above who are the largest training provider in the UK and find an employer.
Encourage your son to talk to his careers / connexions adviser at school