How to Find and Apply for a Paid Apprenticeship in England

Check whether you can start an apprenticeship

Standard apprenticeships in England combine a real paid job with structured training. To start one, you normally need to be aged 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education.

You can apply while you are still at school, but you must be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. There is no general upper age limit for standard apprenticeships, so adults changing career or developing new skills can apply as well.

You can also have an existing qualification, including a degree, and still start an apprenticeship where the training is appropriate for the role and your previous learning is taken into account.

Use the official Find an apprenticeship service

GOV.UK provides the Find an apprenticeship service for vacancies in England. You can search using a job title, company, keyword, city or postcode and browse available opportunities before creating an account.

Employers also advertise apprenticeships on their own careers websites, so if there is a particular organisation you want to work for, checking its recruitment pages can be useful alongside the government service.

Read the entire vacancy before you apply

An apprenticeship is both employment and training, so compare more than the apprenticeship title. Check:

• the employer and job duties;
• the apprenticeship level and training standard;
• salary and working hours;
• workplace and training locations;
• required qualifications and skills;
• the planned start date;
• the employer's recruitment stages; and
• the closing date for applications.

There is no single national application deadline. Every vacancy can have its own closing date, and an employer's recruitment timetable can differ from another employer's.

Create a GOV.UK One Login and apprenticeship account

You can browse apprenticeships without signing in, but the official applicant guidance says you need an account to submit applications through Find an apprenticeship.

The service uses GOV.UK One Login. Once your Find an apprenticeship account is set up, you can save vacancies, create alerts for suitable opportunities, apply and monitor your applications in one place.

Prepare evidence of your skills and experience

Application requirements vary. An employer may ask about your qualifications, skills, interests, experience and reasons for applying. Government apprenticeship guidance notes that employers will commonly ask for a CV and covering letter, although the exact recruitment method is decided by the employer.

Use examples that demonstrate the qualities requested in the vacancy. Relevant evidence does not have to come only from paid employment; depending on the role, school projects, volunteering, clubs, personal projects or other activities can help demonstrate useful skills.

You do not have to wait for one application to finish

You can apply for more than one apprenticeship at the same time. Official apprenticeship guidance recommends considering multiple suitable vacancies because doing so can improve your chances of securing an apprenticeship.

Keep track of each closing date and application status through your account, and tailor each application to the employer and role rather than copying generic answers.

An apprenticeship is a paid job

Apprentices are employees and must receive at least the applicable National Minimum Wage. From 1 April 2026, the apprentice rate is £8.00 per hour.

The £8.00 apprentice rate applies if you are aged under 19, or if you are aged 19 or over and are in the first year of your apprenticeship.

If you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year, you become entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for your age. From 1 April 2026 those rates are £10.85 for people aged 18 to 20 and £12.71 for people aged 21 or over.

An employer can pay more than the statutory minimum, and many apprenticeship vacancies advertise higher salaries.

You earn while you train and do not pay tuition fees

Apprentices do not pay tuition fees. Apprenticeship training and assessment funding is arranged between the employer, government and training provider under the applicable funding rules.

You are an employee, so you receive a salary and employee rights including holiday pay. Your employer must also give you paid time during the working week for apprenticeship training or study required by the programme.

The current apprenticeship rules require a real job and an approved programme. For apprenticeships starting under the current framework, the practical training period must normally meet a statutory minimum duration of 8 months, while actual apprenticeships can take substantially longer depending on the occupation and level.

Choose a level that fits your career goal

Apprenticeships are available at several educational levels. Level 2 foundation and intermediate apprenticeships broadly correspond to GCSE level, level 3 advanced apprenticeships to A level, higher apprenticeships cover levels 4 to 7, and degree apprenticeships operate at levels 6 and 7.

Some programmes lead to an additional qualification such as a diploma. The vacancy should explain the apprenticeship standard and qualification or outcome you will work towards.

Foundation apprenticeships have additional age rules

Foundation apprenticeships are a specific route aimed mainly at younger entrants. Current official guidance says people aged 16 to 21 can apply.

People aged 22 to 24 can qualify only in specified circumstances, including if they have an education, health and care plan, are or have been in care, or are or have been in prison. People aged 25 or over cannot start a foundation apprenticeship, although they may still be eligible for other standard apprenticeships.

The employer controls the recruitment timetable

There is no government-wide processing time for apprenticeship applications. The employer decides how applications are assessed and when candidates are contacted.

If shortlisted, you may be invited to an interview, assessment or another selection stage. The National Careers Service and government apprenticeship service provide application and interview guidance.

If you do not get the apprenticeship, official guidance says you can ask for feedback. Continue searching and applying rather than waiting for a previous vacancy to reopen.

Check your employment and training arrangements

An employer taking on an apprentice must provide employment and apprenticeship arrangements that meet the statutory rules. Your employment contract should state the wage and working hours, and an apprenticeship agreement forms part of the formal apprenticeship arrangement.

Your job must give you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required by the approved apprenticeship, and required training takes place during paid working time.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate services

The Find an apprenticeship process covered here is specifically for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own apprenticeship systems and application services.

If you live outside England, use the service for the nation where you are applying rather than assuming England's eligibility and application rules apply across the whole UK.

Check related support when your work situation changes

If you are currently out of work, an apprenticeship application is separate from benefit claims. Where relevant, you can also check how to claim New Style Jobseeker's Allowance after losing work.

Avoid problems that can weaken your application

• Do not assume every apprenticeship has the same qualifications or age requirements; read the individual vacancy.
• Do not miss the vacancy's closing date, because there is no universal apprenticeship application deadline.
• Do not wait until you have an account before browsing; you can search vacancies first and create your account when you are ready to apply.
• Do not assume an existing degree automatically makes you ineligible for an apprenticeship.
• Tailor applications to the employer instead of sending identical generic answers.
• Check the advertised pay and make sure it meets the statutory minimum applicable to your age and apprenticeship year.
• Do not pay tuition fees for an English apprenticeship; apprentices do not pay tuition fees.
• Do not use the England service if the apprenticeship is being pursued through Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, which have separate systems.