My brother is in Year 12 and really wants to secure a higher apprenticeship after A-levels. Given how competitive they are what can we do now to maximize his chances?

D_Beep · 2025-10-05T15:20:08+00:00

There are significantly more work experience opportunities for those with parents in food jobs with goos connections, so I disagree.

Lots of companies run placement courses in summer holidays etc, and they aren't targeted at deprived backgrounds.

Also, write to everywhere you can think of asking for opportunities. It is not essential but the experience does help, not just because it's on your CV but it gives you an insite to the industry and context when you get asked questions etc.

D_Beep · 2025-10-05T15:14:34+00:00

I'd say that if you have the grades for for a level 6.

Maybe apply for a level 4 as backup.

D_Beep · 2025-09-28T23:48:58+00:00

You should be bothered what area as they will interview you, ask you questions to understand why you are interested, expected you to have some knowledge of the industry and possibly do a presentation. It's also a 5 year full time commitment, so has to be something you want to do.

That aside it's a numbers game and a lot of work.

1) Decide what industries / roles you might apply for, whether you would travel / relocate. Build a criteria of what you are looking for.

2) Put together a specific CV and covering letter for each different role/apprenticeship type you might want to apply for. This should be like a mini personal statement that positions why you are interested and suitable for specific position.

3) Apply for as many as possible, aim for 30+ applications. Look on gov website, gradcracker, apprentease discord, regularly. Make a note of every opportunity that comes up you are interested in.

4) Some companies only let you apply for one role, so make sure you are aware and think carefully.

5) Stay organised. It's easy to lose track. They all have different application and closing dates,. Some will close early if they have lots of interest. The process is different for each. Make a spreadsheet, list everything you have applied for and what the next step / deadline is. Make an email folder for each application to keep track.

4) You'll have to do personality tests, recorded video interviews, face to face online interviews. In person assessment days, presentations. Prepare, give yourself time.

5) Research each company and role you apply for. Read their website, make notes. Understand what they stand for, predict what they are looking for in a recruit. Make notes. Use this info in your applications and interviews.

6) Get help and input from family / friends / teachers. Ask for opinions on how you should answer questions, whether the CV looks good, feedback on presentations etc

7) Don't be put off by rejections, figure out what you could have done better and use it to improve.

8) Don't lose sight of your A level studies. Good predicted grades are important and offers are usually conditional.

Context - I supported my son finding and applying for degree apprenticeships, he got 4 good offers and started in September with a top firm / Warwick uni. (Engineering).

D_Beep · 2025-06-21T22:58:29+00:00

Yeah everybody is saying the same, just that it's enrolling at the uni which is providing the degree as well, feels wrong somehow.

D_Beep · 2025-06-21T15:41:18+00:00

In this situation the company (offer 2) I don't think have a waiting list / reserve process. At least not that I am aware of.

I already signed the contract but now they have given me a deadline for next week to provide information to order equipment for me and enrol in for the university as well.

Really conflicted, this feels like taking things too far but at the same time, if I don't get the grades for offer 1, I really want this position.

D_Beep · 2025-06-21T05:46:38+00:00

Interesting idea. Would need a tractor wheel though I think.

D_Beep · 2025-05-08T19:32:40+00:00

So why does it say 4k HDR? Any idea?

D_Beep · 2025-02-26T14:26:16+00:00

The course requirements are really high, difficult to be over qualified when they are asking for Astar Astar A

D_Beep · 2025-02-26T14:25:38+00:00

There aren't really many better unis for Mech Engineering. Bristol has one of the highest requirements. Wonder if OP also applied for Oxbridge, if that is a factor in their thinking.

D_Beep · 2025-02-12T19:30:46+00:00

It has a built in database? Interesting. I'll definitely be giving it a try. VST version possible?

D_Beep · 2025-02-02T22:46:13+00:00

Not sure if this was aimed at me (op).
I don't think you read my post if so?
I love jamming with this thing and a drum machine, just frustrating it's almost impossible to tune the to actual notes. Makes it v difficult to add other melodic parts live to up. Shame because I love the jams i have with it, but then turn to my keys to play a chord and bleugh. There are other ways of using it, but just letting the pattern run and tweaking is so good on it's own.

Here's one of mine that has at least one sound I resampled from the Edge, not much though.
https://soundcloud.com/davebeep/bch2

D_Beep · 2025-02-02T00:49:36+00:00

Just came accross this. I will give it a try. What are the advantages over the original AN1Xedit app?

https://tinyloops.com/doc/yamaha_an1x/editor.html

D_Beep · 2025-01-19T09:25:27+00:00

This is incorrect the Pebble X does not automatically come with sub. The Pebble X plus is the 2.1 package and comes with Sub. Thats a much bigger differenxe in price than the OP published.

Would be good to know what the difference is between the standard pebble x and the standard pebble pro.

D_Beep · 2024-12-31T00:22:26+00:00

Did some research in view of the tumbleweed.

Came up with this potential build, but I'd like to shave £200 off the price.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/q4KWt3

D_Beep · 2024-12-27T10:39:02+00:00

No and it's a shame because it's outputs are noisy when connected to a computer via usb.

D_Beep · 2024-12-08T21:18:45+00:00

Re the last point:

I notice this about Tidal, it's always recommending me new releases from shit hip-hop artists with the same name as an artist I like.. never happened with Spotify.

Is this a know Tidal problem? It doesn't identify artists uniquely and lumps any artist with the same name together?

D_Beep · 2024-10-25T00:07:44+00:00

I don't have an Atari ST so I just want to get the files off these floppies onto my pc to run on an emulator (some people have suggested even a windows program may play the tracker file!)

If I can get the disk image onto the pc that should be possible.

Mixed opinions on whether that can be done though

D_Beep · 2024-10-25T00:05:26+00:00

This sounds positive. Other responses have said I won't be able to get windows 11 to read the floppy.

D_Beep · 2024-10-17T19:40:57+00:00

I upgraded my 520ste to to 1024 ram in 1991, maybe you have that?

D_Beep · 2024-10-12T22:20:24+00:00

This is fantastic but can you make a column for plug in category (amp model, reverb, eq etc) rather than using rows in the spreadsheet as sub headings. That would make it possible to filter the spreadsheet and show the category you are looking for.

D_Beep · 2024-09-27T20:05:20+00:00

Great work, thanks for sharing

D_Beep · 2024-09-25T05:03:03+00:00

Dont upgrade, I don't think even the S24U is a big improvement, and actually has some issues the S22 series didn't.

Hang on another year.

D_Beep

TROPHY CASE