SIX WAYS TO FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP 

It’s easy to understand why apprenticeships are popular —they offer a tried-and-tested route into a job and a career. But what’s the best way of finding an apprenticeship opportunity? We explore the options.

Apprentices get paid while developing skills relevant to the industry they’re working in. They learn on the job and follow a structured learning programme. Open to all ages, apprenticeships are a top choice to launch you into a profession, switch jobs, or, if you are already employed, gain a promotion at work. Here are six ways to find an apprenticeship:

1.    Head to the BeMore website or app

Explore the BeMore platform, which lists the current apprenticeship positions with employers across the Liverpool City Region. At any one time, there is a lot to choose from. If you don’t find an opportunity that ticks your box immediately, check back regularly, as apprenticeships are always being added. Take some time to explore what’s on offer. This will give you an idea of the sheer breadth of choice of apprenticeships available. You’ll also see which employers are apprentice-friendly and the typical entry requirements they ask for.

Make the BeMore platform part of your regular job search routine. Create an account to receive alerts when new roles matching your criteria go live. If you are looking for apprenticeships outside the region, you can use the national Find an Apprenticeship Service to find apprenticeship opportunities across England. 

2. Browse job websites 

You will also find some apprenticeships listed on online job sites like Indeed, Monster, and TotalJobs. Some apprenticeship positions on job sites don’t include the word ‘apprenticeship’ in the job title. If a job is an apprenticeship opportunity, lower down in the advert description, you’ll see a reference to apprenticeship training as part of the job. 

Pro Tip: A small warning: If you are asked to pay something as part of an application you make on a job site, beware! This may be a scam.

3. Contact employers directly 

If you are already employed, you can ask your employer if they will consider enrolling you in an apprenticeship relevant to the business. There’s little or no cost to the employer, and apprenticeships will benefit the business as well as you.

If you’re not in a job but want an apprenticeship, you could approach local businesses to ask if they offer apprenticeships. Don’t just send an email. Consider dropping in in person, sending your CV, or phoning them. This type of approach is called a speculative application, where a position isn’t actually advertised. Larger employers with established apprenticeship programmes often announce opportunities on their website first, so bookmark the websites of companies you’d like to work for. Here are a few to get you started:

• On Wirral, Unilever is one to watch: Apprenticeships are offered across this manufacturing firm, including in business, engineering, and research and development.
• In Sefton, employers that have recruited apprenticeships this year include Specsavers, supply chain firm Warrant Ltd and Lattimer.
• Knowsley Business Park is home to approximately 800 businesses, including Matalan, QVC and Amazon – do some research and find out which firms are hiring apprentices now.
• Jaguar Land Rover offers engineering and technology apprenticeships in Liverpool and across the UK. Other car manufacturers and many smaller firms also take on apprentices throughout the year.
• Halton Borough Council: Keep checking their job listings to see when the next apprenticeship opportunity will be announced.

Top Tip: Always apply well before the closing deadline, as many employers cap the number of applications. 

4. Use networking to your advantage 

Your connections might help you secure an apprenticeship. Share your career aspirations with friends, family, teachers, career advisors, or anyone who might come across opportunities. 

Online networking tips:

• Build a LinkedIn profile to showcase your aspirations and skills.
• Follow companies you’d like to work for
• Comment (sensibly) on company LinkedIn posts to make yourself visible.

Offline networking tips:

Attend career fairs, workshops, and local meet-ups. Striking up a conversation could lead to an opportunity you otherwise might not have heard about.

5. Reach out to apprenticeship providers

An apprenticeship is a partnership between you, the employer who takes you on, and an apprenticeship organisation (provider) who will teach the training sessions. By contacting apprenticeship providers directly, you could get a head start in finding a position as they recruit apprentices for employers.

Use the government’s approved apprenticeship provider database[https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/choose-training-provider] to find an apprenticeship provider. Enter job roles or keywords; add a location or postcode to refine your search.

Pro Tip: Even with no current vacancies, apprenticeship providers can offer information, advice, and guidance. Pick up the phone to ask about possibilities. 

6. Ready for a degree apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships combine work and study, offering a path to a degree-level qualification without student debt. 

Where to look:

• The Amazing Apprenticeships degree listings are updated every October and January.
• UCAS also includes degree apprenticeship listings, accessible through its search tool.
• The armed services and the police offer degree apprenticeships across many disciplines.

Degree apprenticeships offer competitive starting salaries and enhanced career opportunities. These higher-level apprenticeships tend to start in September, at the beginning of the academic year, but positions can become available throughout the year. 

Effort equals reward

You might be lucky enough to find your ideal apprenticeship quickly. Or you might need to persevere a little more and be proactive. Use the tips above to increase the chances of finding an apprenticeship sooner rather than later. Remember, effort equals reward!