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In the UK, there’s a common misconception that apprenticeships are only for young people looking to get their start in the world of work.
However, in most cases, there’s no upper age limit for apprenticeship positions – and they can be a great way for older adults to shift into a new career. So as long as you live in the UK, and you’re not in full-time education, you can apply for one today!
Below, we’ll delve into what an apprenticeship is, why it’s worth considering, and how to apply.
What is an apprenticeship?
Put simply, an apprenticeship is a training scheme offered by an employer and funded by the government that combines employment with learning. It can help people enter into a new career without taking time out of paid work to study for a conventional academic qualification, such as A-levels or a degree.
What sets apprenticeships apart from other training schemes is that you get paid for the work you do and the time spent studying. As an apprentice, you’ll also receive holiday pay, sick pay, and any other benefits and support offered to employees.
The study part of your apprenticeship will be provided by a further education (FE) college, university, or training centre – and this can take place virtually or in person, depending on the apprenticeship. This will prepare you for a formal assessment, which will lead to a nationally-recognised qualification.
Some apprenticeships can also result in a further employment opportunity at the company you’ve been training with – though this isn’t a given.
What can I learn as an apprentice?
Another common misconception that’s widely held in the UK is that people can only learn trades (such as plumbing and carpentry) through apprenticeships. While these are excellent choices for those looking to make a career change, apprenticeships are offered by employers in a wide range of industries.
These include everything from care services, catering, and creative design to engineering, education, and environmental industries. Head over to apprentices.gov.uk to discover all the sectors that offer apprentice opportunities.
What are the benefits of an apprenticeship?
There are many reasons to consider an apprenticeship. The most obvious is that you can gain new skills, qualifications, and experience to get your foot in the door of a new career. But there are plenty of other key benefits…
- There are no costs – Traditional learning pathways, like degrees, can be very expensive. But apprenticeships are free!
- Get paid while you learn – You don’t need to spend your savings or take out a student loan to learn as an apprentice. In fact, you’ll be actively earning money!
- On-the-job learning – If you don’t want to be stuck in a classroom or spend too much time doing academic work to earn your qualification, an apprenticeship might be for you. This is because it offers hands-on, practical learning.
- Get a taste for your future working environment – Unlike studying for a degree (aside from those offering placements), apprenticeships allow you to experience the environment you’ll be working in. This can help you to make sure that it’s the right career for you.
- Get industry-applicable skills – Some people would argue that because you’re learning on the job, the skills you gain through an apprenticeship will be more applicable to your future career than those learned in a classroom.
- You might be more employable – Research suggests that apprentices are more employable than university graduates. This may be related to the previous point.
What are some drawbacks of an apprenticeship?
While there are plenty of positives to doing an apprenticeship compared to other learning pathways, there are also a few drawbacks…
- Low initial salary – While apprenticeship programmes come with a salary, they are usually relatively low compared to fully qualified employees (some not much more than minimum wage). So if you’re considering giving up other employment to become an apprentice, you’ll need to factor this in.
Minimum wage for a first-year apprentice sits at £8 per hour (as of April 1st 2026). After your first year, it’ll jump up to the national minimum for regular workers, which is £12.71. - Limited career choice – While apprenticeships offer access to various jobs, many career paths still require a university degree. So, depending on what industry you want to work in, an apprenticeship may or may not be an option for getting you there.
- Less flexibility later on – Apprenticeships can involve very focused training, meaning much of your time will be spent learning how to perform a certain role in a specific industry.
This means that, unlike a university degree (which can give you an entry point into a broad range of careers), future job opportunities may be narrower. This doesn’t have to be a problem, as long as you consider your choice of apprenticeship carefully. - Not a traditional learning environment – If you’re thinking about studying at a degree level (a higher or degree apprenticeship), it’s worth remembering that an apprenticeship offers a very different experience to university.
To make sure that the university route isn’t for you, you may want to do some research about life as a mature student before you commit to an apprenticeship. This personal story from Rest Less member Christine is a good place to start.
What types of apprenticeships are on offer?
When it comes to apprenticeships, no two offerings are the same. They can vary in industry, salary, work:study ratio, and duration (taking anywhere between one and six years).
However, once you’ve chosen which industry you’d like to do your apprenticeship in, your next decision will be what level of apprenticeship you’d like to undertake…
- An intermediate apprenticeship is classified by the government as level 2 and is equivalent to a GCSE education.
- An advanced apprenticeship (level 3) is equivalent to an A-level education.
- A higher apprenticeship (levels 4-7) includes any apprenticeship that offers qualifications equivalent to a foundation degree (first year of university study) or higher.
- A degree apprenticeship (levels 6 and 7) is equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on which one you choose to take.
The entry requirements for apprenticeship opportunities may vary depending on who’s offering them and how competitive they are. However, a good, general rule of thumb is that you’ll at least need qualifications from the previous level of study.
For example, intermediate apprenticeships don’t require any formal qualifications. However, to secure a higher apprenticeship, you’ll typically need level 2 and 3 qualifications – i.e. GCSEs and A-levels, or equivalents.
Where can I find apprenticeship opportunities?
If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice, the next step is to see what’s on offer. Below, we discuss some of the best places to look for opportunities…
Job boards
Online job boards are an excellent place to search for apprenticeships. Use the button below to see the ones available through our website.
Government websites
Wherever you live in the UK, you can find apprenticeships by visiting the relevant government websites.
Go directly to employers
Most companies will likely advertise their apprenticeship vacancies on jobs boards, but some might not. So it’s worth reaching out directly to companies you’re interested in to see if they run any apprenticeship programmes – and if there are any slots available.
Even if they don’t have any vacancies available right now, you might gain some information to help you with future applications.
For large companies in particular, it’s worth checking out their websites. More and more employers are dedicating space online to information about their apprenticeship opportunities. Take a look at this Barclays page as an example.
If you can’t find anything on their website, consider getting in touch with employers via email. You could even make a speculative application. Check out this post from Prospects to find out more about speculative applications. Or visit Careerpilot for more advice on finding apprenticeships.
Tips for applying for an apprenticeship…
Once you’ve found an apprenticeship that you like, it’s time to apply!
Applying for an apprentice opportunity can be very similar to applying for a job. It sometimes involves sending prospective employers a copy of your CV and a tailored cover letter detailing why you’re the best candidate for the role.
However, as apprentices aim to train people from the ground up, previous work experience isn’t as important as it would be for a regular job application.
Instead, try to focus on hard skills you’ve gained that might be transferable to this new industry (such as proficiency in copywriting or data analysis), as well as soft skills (like critical thinking and problem-solving). Your cover letter is also a good place to highlight your goals for the future, which are another important part of an apprenticeship application.
Not all apprenticeship applications ask for a CV and cover letter. Some involve answering bespoke application questions with character limits (UCAS’s examples are: ‘Summarise why your skills are a good fit for this role?’ and ‘Why are you passionate about working for us?’), while psychometric tests designed to assess skills and personality are common when applying for fields like maths and engineering.
For more tips on applying for apprenticeships, check out this article from Careerpilot.
Final thoughts…
If you’re looking to make a career change later in life, we hope this article has shown that becoming an apprentice is a great option to consider. You can head over to the government’s website to find out more.
And if you decide an apprenticeship isn’t for you, and you’d like to gain a degree instead, you’ll find a range of content on attending university as an older adult on our website. Popular articles include: A guide to becoming a university student in your 50s, 60s, and beyond and 7 tips on how to choose a university as a mature student.
Have you considered applying for an apprenticeship? Or have you or somebody you know already undertaken one later in life? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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