Guides

Straight answers about how apprenticeships work, what you'll get paid, and how to give yourself the best chance of getting one.

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Getting started

Apprentice pay explained

The legal minimum you'll be paid as an apprentice from April 2026, what apprentices actually earn on average, and what the employers we've researched pay.

All of the UK · 3 min read

  • Apprenticeships across the UK

    England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all run apprenticeships differently. Here's how the names, levels, numbers and official sources compare.

    Across the UK All of the UK 3 min read

  • How to apply for an apprenticeship

    What applying for an apprenticeship actually involves, from the first form to the assessment centre, with real examples of how the employers we've researched pick their apprentices.

    Applying All of the UK 3 min read

  • How to research an apprenticeship employer

    A practical checklist for looking into an employer before you apply, with real examples and figures that show how much programmes differ.

    Researching employers All of the UK 2 min read

Getting started

What apprenticeships are, how they work and what you get.

  • Apprentice pay explained

    The legal minimum you'll be paid as an apprentice from April 2026, what apprentices actually earn on average, and what the employers we've researched pay.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Apprenticeship vs university

    An honest side-by-side of an apprenticeship and a university degree in England: cost, debt, pay, qualifications and what each one suits, with the real numbers.

    England 3 min read

  • Apprenticeships at 16 and straight after school

    When you can start an apprenticeship in each UK nation, what you'll be paid at 16, which employers take school leavers and which want you to be 18, and when to apply.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Can you get an apprenticeship without GCSEs?

    Yes, you can. Here's which apprenticeships don't ask for grades, how English and maths work if you haven't passed them yet, and real examples from employers across the UK.

    All of the UK 2 min read

  • What is an apprenticeship?

    An apprenticeship is a real, paid job with training built in. Here's how they work in England, what you get, who can apply, and how many people start one each year.

    England 3 min read

Levels and qualifications

Make sense of levels, degree apprenticeships and the qualifications you can gain.

  • Apprenticeship levels explained

    Intermediate, advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships: what each level is equivalent to, how many people start at each one, and why employers don't all use the same names.

    England 3 min read

  • Degree apprenticeships explained

    How degree apprenticeships let you get a degree while you work, how many people do them, how long they take, and what to check before you apply, including the different routes in Scotland and Wales.

    England, Scotland, Wales 3 min read

  • End-point assessment explained

    How you're assessed at the end of an apprenticeship in England: who runs it, what "gateway" means, what happens if you don't pass, and how assessment is changing.

    England 2 min read

Researching employers

Practical ways to research employers and compare what they offer.

  • How to research an apprenticeship employer

    A practical checklist for looking into an employer before you apply, with real examples and figures that show how much programmes differ.

    All of the UK 2 min read

  • Researching engineering apprenticeships

    Engineering apprenticeships go from workshop technician roles to degree-level design. How to compare employers, with real figures from the big engineering employers we've researched.

    England, Scotland, Wales 2 min read

Applying

Applications, CVs, cover letters, interviews and assessment centres.

  • Apprenticeship interviews and assessment centres

    How to get ready for apprenticeship interviews, video interviews and assessment centres, what happens on the day, and what to do afterwards.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Cover letters and application questions

    How to write a cover letter that sounds like you, and strong answers to written application questions, using official careers advice and real examples from employers we've researched.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Didn't get the grades? What to do next

    Results day didn't go to plan? Here's what happens to a conditional apprenticeship offer, who to talk to, and the routes that are still open to you, with real examples.

    All of the UK 2 min read

  • How to apply for an apprenticeship

    What applying for an apprenticeship actually involves, from the first form to the assessment centre, with real examples of how the employers we've researched pick their apprentices.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Writing a CV for an apprenticeship

    How to write a clear CV that stands out when you don't have much work experience, section by section, based on official careers advice.

    All of the UK 3 min read

Across the UK

How apprenticeships differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  • Apprenticeships across the UK

    England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all run apprenticeships differently. Here's how the names, levels, numbers and official sources compare.

    All of the UK 3 min read

  • Apprenticeships in England

    Who can apply, the levels from foundation to degree, the new foundation apprenticeships for 16 to 21 year olds, pay, assessment and how many people start one in England each year.

    England 4 min read

  • Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland

    Apprenticeships NI at Levels 2 and 3, Higher Level Apprenticeships from Level 4 to 7, who can apply, which colleges and universities deliver them, and the latest numbers.

    Northern Ireland 3 min read

  • Apprenticeships in Scotland

    Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships explained: who can apply, what SCQF levels mean, how long each one takes and what you get paid in Scotland.

    Scotland 4 min read

  • Apprenticeships in Wales

    The four apprenticeship levels in Wales, who can apply, how degree apprenticeships are funded, training in Welsh, and how many people start one each year.

    Wales 3 min read

  • UK apprenticeship statistics 2026

    The latest official apprenticeship numbers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in one place: starts, levels, ages, completion rates and pay, each with its source.

    All of the UK 3 min read