How to Find an Apprenticeship
- Last updated 26 Jul 2016
So you’ve decided you want to do an apprenticeship! Of course, the great big hulking question is: where can you find apprenticeship vacancies?
The problem with looking for apprenticeships is trying to find the opportunities for non-company employees. You might have read about a company having tonnes of apprenticeships, but if you're struggling to find vacancies, it may be they are only for existing employees. So unless you already work for that company, that doesn’t really help you in your apprenticeship hunt.
Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of opportunities open for those looking for an apprenticeship. Here’s our guide on the places to look:
Use our apprenticeship vacancies board
You can start your apprenticeship search right here, on AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk. Well, we had to mention it, didn’t we? We've got listings of the apprenticeships available with some of the UK's top companies.
In addition, there’s information about school leaver programmes and sponsored degrees, as well as traineeships. After all, doing an apprenticeship isn’t your only option.
You can also browse our list of employers and training providers to find out about some of the organisations offering apprenticeships.
Other sources of apprenticeship vacancies
Ok, shameless plug out of the way, let’s explore the other places you can look for apprenticeships. If you don’t find what you're looking for on our apprenticeship vacancies board, you can also try:
- The National Apprenticeship Service, which has a number of apprenticeship vacancies.
- Your local jobs centre will often have details of apprenticeship vacancies in your area, or listings of companies willing to take on apprentices. Alternatively, you could get in touch with your local council for information about possible vacancies.
- Try getting in contact with your local further education college or apprenticeship training provider to find out about possible opportunities.
- If you know what industry or sector you want to get into, then you could try sector skills councils and professional associations to find out about the sorts of apprenticeships available.
- It’s well worth keeping an eye on industry publications for news of companies taking on apprentices.
- Attend apprenticeship fairs near you. These are a great way to find out about the types of apprenticeships available and the companies offering them.
Speculative applications to companies…
Many job opportunities aren’t advertised, but there is a weapon in the apprenticeship seeker’s arsenal and that is the speculative application.
If there’s a company that you really want to work for, or one that you know has taken on apprentices in the past, then you can always send them a speculative application.
This involves giving them a call to find out the name and contact details of the person who handles recruitment for the company.
You can then send them a speculative cover letter and your apprenticeship CV (usually via email), enquiring about possible apprenticeship vacancies.
A couple of weeks later you can follow up your email with a call to check that the person has received it.
You can also send in a hard copy of your speculative application as well. Speculative applications aren’t a sure-fire way of getting an apprenticeship, but they are certainly worth a shot.
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