IT’S the time of year when young people and parents are giving thought to the end of year 11 and what to do next, writes Hazel Prior, employment advisor at Aldershot Jobcentre.

If you want to learn a profession or a trade then an apprenticeship could be the route to choose. Apprenticeships are real jobs with training and participants gain the qualifications required as they go.

This years NHS and National Apprenticeships week will be taking place between March 5 and 9 and is supported by Health Education England.

The NHS is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships, and covers everything from estates, health and social care, clinical roles, housekeeping, IT, business admin and accounting.

They can be based in hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and dentists so there is a wide choice and suitable for a range of levels and abilities.

During Apprenticeship Week there will be events taking place across the area aimed at demonstrating how apprenticeships work across all industries, sectors and job roles:

• March 7 at 4pm 3AAA Academy will be hosting How Apprenticeships Work Open Evening in Guildford. The event will consist of a taster session to give a little taste of what being an apprentice is like, a look around the learning facilities and meet the Trainers. For more information email [email protected]

• Guildford College will be holding an apprenticeship event on March 8 from 5.30pm to 8pm. No need to book, just turn up, meet the teaching staff and discuss the way forward for you!

• One of the biggest Apprenticeship events in the south of England is being held at Basingstoke College of Technology on March 12 at 4.30pm. With more than 40 companies attending, this is great opportunity for young people, parents and employers to attend and find out more about how apprenticeships work.

A wide range of employers will be at the event and ready to chat about their vacancies, so people looking for an employer to take them on as an apprentice are advised dress to impress and bring their CV with them.

• For more information about what’s happening in your area, an interactive map (nawevents.co.uk/) will highlight the array of events scheduled to take place.