This research focused on how apprenticeships, at their best, provide extensive social support for young people. It draws on, and contributes to, debates about workforce (and especially vocational) development in contemporary Australia. It also contributes to the growing literature on social support and health, especially the role that work could play in improving the mental health of young people. Specifically, it identifies the forms of social support provided to young carpentry apprentices. Findings have been generated from eight case studies, which included smaller organisations and some of Australia's leading construction firms and group training organisations (GTOs). Key findings include: (1) Formal mentoring arrangements were common; (2) Systemic informal support embedded in trade cultures of vocational and social development was significant; (3) Support arrangements were integral--not incidental--to organisational business models; (4) Apprenticeship models of support can extend to occupations above and below trades level; (5) Quasi-apprenticeship support arrangements for occupations below trades level required additional stakeholders and resources; and (6) External program-based mentoring arrangements can complement (but not replace) effective apprenticeship support arrangements. The following are appended: (1) Report on the quantitative phase of this project; and (2) Evolution of the research question and design for this project. [For the accompanying guide, "A Guide to Providing Social Support for Apprentices: Good Practice Guide," see ED567791.]