National Apprenticeship Week 2026!

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a course type in which an individual works part-time for an employer whilst also studying and working towards a nationally recognised qualification in their chosen sector.

Apprenticeships last between 1 and 5 years to complete depending on the level. Anyone can study an apprenticeship, with many adults choosing apprenticeships to retrain or upskill.

An apprentice becomes an employee at an organisation, earning a wage and holiday pay, and working alongside experienced staff.  

In general, an apprentice will spend 20% of their working hours in training and study. The remaining 80% of working hours are spent at the organisation, gaining hands on experience. 

How to find an apprenticeship

There are many ways to source employers who have apprenticeship vacancies. One of the best places to find an apprenticeship is on the government website: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship.  

Users can filter the search results by location and sector to show relevant vacancies, with each vacancy detailing more about the apprenticeship qualification and role.  

A prospective apprentice may also self-source their employer, either by work experience, reaching out to local employers, or speaking to friends and family with business connections.