Civil Service Apprenticeships

What is the civil service?

The civil service helps the government turn policies into real action. Think of them as the people who make things happen. From paying benefits to running job centres and managing prisons, the civil service keeps essential services running smoothly all over the UK.

You’ve 100% come across the civil service before. Whether you’ve ever had to get a passport made or received your NI number. The civil service is made up of 44 government departments and 421 agencies and other public bodies that work under them. They include:

• The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

• The Home Office

• The Ministry of Defence

• Student Loans Company

• The Department of Education.

These departments are made up of real people doing work that impacts your everyday life.

They stick to a clear code: integrity, honesty, objectivity, and impartiality. While they help implement government policies, they're not political. Their real focus is serving the public.

The civil service employs over 500,000 people and they're growing. They need fresh perspectives, new ideas, and young talent who want to make a real difference. That’s where you come in.

Do you need a degree for Civil Service?

Absolutely not. The civil service offers roles for all people, no matter what their qualifications are. While some specialist roles do require degrees, plenty of opportunities exist at entry level that you can do right after school.

Don’t have any formal qualifications or experience yet? An apprenticeship will absolutely get you there and the civil service offers loads. You’ll gain all the skills and qualifications you need.

If university is still on your radar, degree apprenticeships give you all the perks of a university degree without the student debt. You can choose from hundreds of degree apprenticeships across industries like law, IT, and accounting.

What types of civil service apprenticeships are there?

The civil service is massive when it comes to apprenticeships, and the variety will surprise you. 

You'll find opportunities in everything from cyber security and digital tech to economics and legal work, there’s so much choice. Civil service apprenticeships can be done all over the country with loads of opportunities available across all apprenticeship levels:

• Level 2 (Intermediate)

• Level 3 (Advanced)

• Level 4/5 (Higher)

• Level 6/7 (Degree).

You’ll be able to apply for roles across the following:

• Science and Engineering

• Counter Fraud

• Customer Services

• Cyber Security

• Digital

• Economics

• Finance

• Legal

• Operational Delivery

• Social Research.

The civil service also offers a Level 4 Fast Track Apprenticeship Programme as an alternative to university. The programme lasts two years and is available in: business, commercial, finance, project delivery and digital technology.

Want to see what's actually out there? Here are some real opportunities you could apply for right now:

Project support officer (Level 4) - House of Commons

You'll work on major projects, handling documentation, coordinating teams, and keeping everything on track within the UK Parliament.

Apprentice data engineer (Level 4) - Disclosure & Barring Service

You'll build and maintain data systems that help keep people safe, working with tools like SQL, AWS, and Oracle while creating dashboards that drive real business decisions.

Does MI5 do apprenticeships?

Yes they do! MI5 offers a wide range of apprenticeships that’ll give you the opportunity to help keep the country safe. You can find apprenticeships in technology, intelligence, languages, infrastructure and more.

Want to know if a career with MI5 is for you? Take their quiz to find out.

Here’s what one management support apprentice felt about their time with the Civil Service:

I enjoy the work we do as it is something which benefits people and their everyday lives. The team I work within is situated in a comfortable environment, everyone is easy to talk to and you can trust your colleagues with both personal and professional matters. Outside of work the team meets up and books events and this massively improves relationships in work also. I enjoy the programme more than I anticipated as the environment can be quite relaxed at times while still getting the work completed.

How much do civil service apprenticeships pay?

You’ll earn a real salary from day one. That includes any training time.

Civil service apprentice salaries typically range from £18,000 to £35,000 per year, depending on the level and location. Here's what you can generally expect:

• Level 2/3 apprenticeships: £18,000 - £25,000

• Level 4/5 apprenticeships: £22,000 - £30,000

• Level 6/7 apprenticeships: £25,000 - £35,000

Not only will you get paid, you’ll also receive employment benefits. This includes the civil service pension scheme as well as other benefits like cycle to work schemes and paid holiday. 

The best part? Your salary will increase as you progress through your apprenticeship and gain more skills and experience. Once you’re fully qualified, there’s potential to earn so much more.

What qualifications do you need for a civil service apprenticeship?

There's an apprenticeship level that fits exactly where you are right now. Here's what you need for each level:

• 2 (Intermediate): Two or more GCSEs graded at levels 9 to 4 (A* to C)

• 3 (Advanced): Five GCSEs graded at 9 to 4 (A* to C) or similar

• 4/5 (Higher): Two A Levels or completed a Level 3 apprenticeship

• 6/7 (Degree): Three A Levels graded at 9 to 4 (A* to C)

You’ll start Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships from age 16, while Level 4-7 apprenticeships typically start at 18.

Beyond your grades, soft skills will be a huge bonus to have. The best part, you already have so many of them.

Think teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and empathy. These matter just as much as your exam results.

How to apply for a civil service apprenticeship

Most civil service apprenticeships open in spring for summer starts, but opportunities pop up year-round, so it's always worth keeping an eye out.

You'll start with an online application and include your CV. Next, you'll complete online tests covering verbal, numerical, and situational judgement skills. These basically help employers understand how you approach situations and make decisions.

Some apprenticeships might ask you to include a 1000 personal statement letting them know what you can bring to the role. Don’t worry! They’ll let you know what you need to cover.

Depending on the apprenticeship, you might attend an assessment centre with group activities and interviews, or proceed directly to a final interview. The process varies by role, but every job description outlines exactly what to expect.

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