Search and Apply for Apprenticeships
There are many exciting opportunities throughout the year to join apprenticeships and other technical education programmes.
Within this page you can find advice and guidance to support you through the apprenticeship search and application process.
How to search
Follow these top tips to begin your search for an apprenticeship. Discover when and where to look, and how to stay informed about new vacancies.
Step 1: Visit Find an apprenticeship
Find an apprenticeship is the Government apprenticeship vacancy portal, providing free access to a large number of apprenticeship vacancies from across England at all levels.
Anyone aged 14+ can create an account on this secure platform, enabling you to set up alerts for when new jobs are added that you might be interested in.
Use the step-by-step guide to setting up an account on Find an apprenticeship.
Step 2: Specialist Job sites
There are many specialist websites that cater for school and college leavers looking for their next step.
Free to use and packed with advice and helpful links, check out the following websites and their apprenticeship vacancies:
Step 3: Direct with employers
Most employers will add their apprenticeship vacancies to their company website. Search in the ‘careers’ section of the site to find information about current vacancies, and potentially forthcoming opportunities too.
Some employers will offer a signup service to keep you informed as soon as new positions are open, and others may advertise when the next recruitment window will be so you know when to check back.
Some employers may offer other ways to stay in touch and learn more about their organisation through virtual work experience, open days, and webinars.
Step 4: Social media
Social media is a fantastic way to follow different employers, and careers platforms. When you follow an account, make sure you you select the ‘careers’ account as many employers, particularly the large employers, will have different accounts for different audiences.
Look across multiple platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Step 5: Monthly vacancies
Amazing Apprenticeships offer a free monthly newsletter for all apprenticeship jobseekers. Each month the newsletter features a wide variety of apprenticeship vacancies from across England.
The vacancies cover all levels of apprenticeships, and all sizes of employer.
This service is completely free of charge, and is quick to sign up to.
TOP TIPS
• Application processes and timelines will vary between different employers. Some employers could start recruiting as early as one year before they want the apprentice to start, others will have a shorter recruitment window.
• Deadlines will be different for each role, so make sure you take a note of key dates for each role. You could use the calendar on your phone and set alarms to remind you of different deadlines or get an app or even a paper calendar or diary specifically for application dates.
• Don’t wait until the deadline. Some employers will set a closing date, but if they receive a high volume of responses, they may close their application window early.
• You can apply for more than one apprenticeship at a time, which will increase your chance of securing an apprenticeship.
• Employers will advertise at different times of the year, there is no set time to apply like for university applications.
How to apply
There are lots of ways to stand out in the application process and ultimately, employers are looking for the candidates who are most passionate and suited to their organisation.
This useful step-by-step guide will help you to know what to expect when you are applying for an apprenticeship, and the different steps involved.
Get Ready To Apply
Use this checklist to get ‘application ready’ so as soon as aspiring apprentices see a position they are interested in, they feel equipped to apply quickly and effectively.
Higher & Degree Vacancy Listing
Explore thousands of Higher and Degree apprenticeship vacancies in the latest edition of the Higher & Degree Listing.
