Can you do an Apprenticeship after A-Levels? From someone who did

How do apprenticeships actually work?

Real work from day one. You’ll spend between 18 months and 5 years around experienced professionals in a full-time role, building the knowledge and practical experience you need for a successful career. At the same time, you'll work towards a qualification. Best of all, you'll be paid a salary.

When I first started my apprenticeship, I didn’t expect to be given real ownership of projects from the start, and I was practically thrown in the deep end. But by doing that, I learned so much faster. It gave me a confidence boost, too.

It can be a lot to juggle at once, and a little bit overwhelming at times. But that’s exactly why apprentices grow so quickly; you get treated like any regular employee.

What does an apprentice do?

As an apprentice, you’ll spend most of your time with experienced professionals who will ensure you have the knowledge and practical skills you need to perform in your field. You’ll be doing real and relevant work for your company; apprentices do not make the tea for the person who makes the coffee.

To find out more, watch my story below about my journey of choosing an apprenticeship after my A-Levels:

Follow us on socials to watch loads more apprentice stories like mine:

Before I started applying, I read loads of apprentice job reviews on Higherin. I found it really helpful to read about students just like me, and it's the best way to know what to expect before you apply.

Here’s what this apprentice got up to during their time at Royal Mail:

During my apprenticeship, I developed a wide range of new skills. These included managing large process improvement projects and gaining numerous technical skills such as programming in Python (Pandas), SQL, statistical data analysis, data visualisation, and mathematics for data science. I also took part in a two-day hackathon and created a portfolio documenting five completed projects. Level 4 Business Insight & Data Provision Admin, Royal Mail

Where do you study?

So during your apprenticeship, you’ll spend some of your time working towards a nationally recognised qualification. This usually happens at a training centre, college or university, depending on the type of apprenticeship you do. 

How it’s structured depends on your employer. Some schemes have you working for weeks or months at a time, and then you’ll have study blocks. Others mix it up more with four days working and one study day. 

I became a pro at time management, as my schedule was mixed. I’d listen to lectures on my commute, fit university work into my lunch breaks and set time aside in the evenings. But I soon got into a routine, and I was able to have a social life, too.

What industries can you do an apprenticeship in?

Before I started looking into apprenticeships, I thought they were only for people who wanted to work in construction or plumbing. The reality is, apprenticeships have changed.

You can do an apprenticeship in pretty much any industry: accounting, law, engineering, tech, healthcare and more. Whatever career you’re looking into, there’s a good chance there’ll be an apprenticeship for it. I actually did my degree apprenticeship in marketing.

Our career guides are packed with everything you need to know about what’s available in any industry you’re interested in.

What types of apprenticeships can I do

You have two apprenticeship options after your A-Levels:

• Higher apprenticeships (Levels 4 and 5)

• Degree apprenticeships (Level 6 and 7).

Let’s break it down.

What companies could I work for?

You might be surprised at who takes on apprentices. I did mine at L’Oréal, and other household names in banking, tech, retail and more all run schemes too.

If working for the big names isn't for you, there are loads of really cool small and medium-sized companies that run apprenticeship schemes. And you often get the chance to get stuck into a little bit of everything.

Not sure where to start? We've teamed up with the Department for Education to rank this year’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, voted for by apprentices. Find out who made the list:

My application tips

These are three things I did to help me secure my apprenticeship.

1. Personalise every application. Don't just send the same thing to everyone; really think about why you want that specific role. It shows, and it's what gets you noticed.

1. Practise the tests. Most early careers roles include psychometric tests; do some practice ones first, so there are no surprises.

1. Go above and beyond at assessment centres. If there's any chance to stand out from everyone else, take it. That's what gets you remembered.

We have loads more application advice. Download our free application toolkit to help you stand out and put together an application that gets you noticed.