Business Degree Apprenticeships

What happens in an business degree apprenticeship?

During your business degree apprenticeship, you'll work for an employer whilst studying towards a degree. You could be working for 4 days and studying for 1 day each week, or have dedicated longer study periods over a year. You’ll study at a university, a college or a training centre.

A degree apprenticeship is the big daddy of apprenticeships, so expect to learn a deeper understanding of business, have a lot more responsibility and get involved in projects right from the start. Depending on the sector you choose, your typical week will include:

• Collaborating with team members and clients

• Attending and hosting meetings

• Working on projects

• Analysing data to solve business problems or find opportunities

• Writing reports and creating strategies.

By the time you graduate, you'll be miles ahead of traditional graduates with three to five years of work experience, a truckload of skills and a relevant degree. Best of all, you’ll be paid like any other full-time employee.

Dream of stepping into a manager position? Discover how a chartered management degree apprenticeship can help you build real-world leadership experience.

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a degree apprentice? We have hundreds of reviews from apprentices. Here’s what one had to say about their time at Capgemini.

What qualifications do you need for a business degree apprenticeship?

You’ll usually need a higher-level qualification to do a degree apprenticeship. Usually, employers will ask for,

• Three A Levels (or similar: BTEC, Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship)

• Between 112-120 UCAS points.

You’ll also need to be 18 and older. If you've already got business experience, you might not need as many qualifications as someone just starting their career journey. But you should be able to demonstrate your skills.

Always double-check the requirements before applying.

How much are business degree apprentices paid?

On average, you could earn over £26,300 per year as a degree apprentice. How much you earn depends on your employer, so it’s worth having a look around.

For example, if you do a business management degree apprenticeship with PwC, you could earn £25,600 per year. And as a chartered manager degree apprentice at TUI, you’ll earn between £28,000 - £30,000 per year.

Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeships

If you’re looking to fast-track your journey into management, you don’t need to wait years to start. A chartered management degree apprenticeship will give you all the leadership experience you need from day one.

There are management apprenticeships in loads of employers such as Visa, Unilever, GE Aerospace, Nestle and The BBC. During your apprenticeship, you’ll spend five years refining your leadership skills. Some of your tasks and learning areas will include:

• Project development

• Managing customer and client relationships

• Sales and marketing

• Leading a team

• Ethics and sustainability.

Here’s what one degree apprentice felt about their time at Visa:

If you successfully complete your end assessment, you’ll receive Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, which is internationally recognised and can seriously upgrade your employability. Find out more about chartered status with The Chartered Management Institute.

How to apply for a business degree apprenticeship

Employers will start hunting for degree apprentices to join them between September and March, so it’s 100% worth getting your application in early.

To apply, you’ll need to make sure your CV and cover letter are up-to-date and filled with all those amazing relevant skills you’ve picked up over the years. TOP TIP: Always tailor your CV for each job you apply for, not all business degree apprenticeships look for the same skills. An employer will know if you’ve recycled a CV.

You’ll then need to get those interview skills prepped as you’ll be invited to an assessment centre where you’ll take part in various tasks including psychometric tests, group work, presentations and an interview.