Apprenticeships in the UK: Earn while you learn at these UK multinationals

Should you opt for the road most taken and head to university for a four-year degree, or pursue an apprenticeship in the UK to earn while you learn?

Neither pathway is necessarily better than the other as the learning and career outcome varies depending on the route taken.

If you’re interested in hands-on, experiential training without worrying too much about tuition fees, an apprenticeship is a way to go.

Why pursue apprenticeships in the UK?

If you’re looking to pursue an apprenticeship in the UK, you’ll be happy to know that opportunities abound. 

The UK government notes that 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation; 78% of employers said apprenticeships has helped them improve productivity. Additionally, 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously said: “High-quality apprenticeships give people from all backgrounds and ages a real choice in life, providing them with the skills employers value, which our economy needs, and which lead to better paid jobs.”

Clearly, apprenticeships in the UK can be a win for both the job seeker and employer. For these reasons, many organisations in the UK are getting on board with the idea of training individuals in line with their company values and processes. Among them are some of the world’s largest organisations.

Here are five companies offering rewarding apprenticeships in the UK: 

EY UK

Ernst & Young (EY) offers individuals the chance to kickstart their careers with various apprenticeship programmes. You can find apprenticeship programmes in assurance, the personal tax centre, tax technology, and strategy, to name a few.

EY also offers a degree apprenticeship in digital and technology, which enables tech-savvy students to help EY  and their clients find new ways of using data and the latest technologies to enhance performance, increase efficiency, better identify and respond to risks and improve engagement with stakeholders.

Participants will also study towards a BSc degree in Digital and Technology solutions with BPP University. A BPP University is a publicly owned company in the UK that has degree awarding powers.

HSBC UK

HSBC apprenticeships offer those who have not gone to university another route towards securing a rewarding career at the company. They offer two types of apprenticeships in the UK: Foundation Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships.

Foundation Apprenticeships entail a permanent or fixed term contract entry-level role, a competitive salary, and a benefits package. 

Degree Apprenticeships, on the other hand, means applicants will join on a permanent contract consisting of a four-year structured programme which includes a series of different rotations across multiple areas of their business line, while working towards an externally recognised degree qualification via one of their university partners.

Zenith

Zenith’s training scheme involves key stakeholders, which gives each apprentice opportunities to grow through projects, in-depth product training, off-site industry visits, and more. 

Candidates can also expect to assist team members with a range of day-to-day responsibilities, have the chance to be involved in presentations, company events, and shaping material for future Zenith apprentices.

PepsiCo

PepsiCo UK has a number of apprentices on their Grow Our Own programme who work across their sites in a variety of roles. The programme is ideal for those who want to develop the skills to embark on an exciting and rewarding career within the food and drink sector.

As a testament to the quality of their programme, a whopping 89% of apprentices feel their training is having a positive impact on developing their capability.

Bentley Motors

Bentley Motors offers several apprenticeship programmes that share the same goal: the opportunity to make a difference from day one. Their website shares Aima Ali’s inspiring story. Ali is a Higher Apprentice who chose Bentley instead of four university acceptances.

“In the first three months of my Higher Apprenticeship, I was presenting to a Purchase Director,” she says. “Within six months, I’d travelled to Germany for a conference at the headquarters of Bentley’s parent company, VW Group. And, in my first year, I was responsible for a purchase package of over a million pounds.”