Hi David,
Welcome to ECN, mate.
Good luck with securing an apprenticeship, having done a couple myself, I reckon they are the only way to get trained up as an electrician.
Personally though, until you get the offer of employment in writing and signed by your prospective employer, a promise doesn't really mean that much, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be negative at all, but I've seen in the past here where there has been an "offer" of employment, but it has fallen through, by the boss saying "Well, I don't really have that much work to keep you busy".
I seriously hope that this doesn't happen to you.
Hope this is of some help to you and again, good luck.