Everything you need to know about apprenticeships in England, including what they are, entry requirements, and more.
There are apprenticeships available for thousands of different jobs in a range of industries. From something hands-on like engineering, nursing or construction, to a career in marketing, law or project management, to name a few.
With an apprenticeship, most of your learning is through on-the-job training and you’ll work towards a qualification at the same time. You get paid a salary just like a normal employee, and you get dedicated study time throughout the week too.
To be considered for an apprenticeship programme in England, you need to be:
If you're in care, or have experience of being in care, Amazing Apprenticeships Care Leavers Guide gives info about apprenticeships and what help is available if you're considering an apprenticeship in England, including financial assistance.
Hear from Sheona about what her day-to-day life is like as a Level 4 sales apprentice with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
Starting January 2026, government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships in England will be limited to individuals aged 21 and under, and under 25 for care leavers and those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the start of their apprenticeship in England.
This means that if you’re over 22 and starting an apprenticeship after January 2026, your employer will be expected to fund your learning. These changes aim to redirect funding toward lower-level apprenticeships, enhancing opportunities for early-career learners. If you start an apprenticeship in 2025, it will continue to be funded by government all the way through to the completion of your programme.
Interested in an apprenticeship but not sure what you want to do? Get to know the different industries offering apprenticeships, from marketing to architecture and business management to engineering.
An apprenticeship is a real job, so you’ll also need to meet any other criteria set out by the employer. Entry requirements are different depending on the employer and the role, and will vary per vacancy. Make sure you read the vacancy carefully and get in touch with the employer if you have any questions.
Remember, it’s not all about qualifications. Employers will be looking for willingness to learn, passion, and transferrable skills you could bring to the role.
"When we’re looking for our apprentices, there really isn’t a specific type of person, or specific skill set we’re looking for. Instead, it’s about recognising people with ambition and a determination to succeed."
"We always employ our apprentices with a view beyond their qualification as the objective is always to progress people through and up the organisation. We’re here to equip our staff with the skills they need to succeed."
Just create a UCAS account and fill in a quick form to tell us what you are interested in, where you live, and how far you want to travel.