Apprenticeships in Bournemouth
Bournemouth is one of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts. Known for its award-winning beaches and sunny microclimate, it is also a significant player in industries such as tech, finance, media, and marketing.
Several major league companies are operating in the area, including JPMorgan Chase,
LV, AXA UK, Caterpillar, Allianz, Honeywell, and 3 Sided Cube.
Careers in Bournemouth
As a seaside resort, Bournemouth attracts over 7 million visitors a year – creating a booming tourism industry that encompasses B&Bs, hotels, guided tours, coach trips and more.
There’s plenty of work for lifeguards and ice cream sellers, too!
Other common occupations in Bournemouth include working in the hospitality and healthcare sectors, retail, customer service, business administration and professional services.
The trades, construction, manufacturing, and logistics, including delivery drivers, all contribute to the city’s economy.
The presence of the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) has seen Bournemouth excel in graphics and animation, creating opportunities for animators and graphic designers.
The latest apprentice jobs in Bournemouth
-
BAE Systems Apprenticeships (Register your interest for 2026/27)
BAE SystemsUK -
Sky Apprenticeships (Register Interest)
SkyUK -
National Trust Apprenticeship Scheme
National TrustUK -
National Grid Apprenticeship Schemes
National GridUK -
BMW Apprenticeships 2025 (Register Interest)
BMWUK -
PwC Apprenticeship Programme 2025
PwCUK
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search all jobs.
Top employers in Bournemouth
Living and working in Bournemouth
Set in Dorset on the south coast, Bournemouth is a charming seaside resort replete with seven miles of Blue Flag beaches, traditional beach huts and two majestic piers.
The Boscombe Pier is a Grade II listed site. First built in 1889, and 230 metres long, it was renovated in 2009 and was declared ‘Britain’s Coolest Pier’ the same year. The following year, it was ranked by the National Piers Society as ‘Pier of the Year’.
The second pier, Bournemouth Pier, is even longer, at over 300 metres, and is packed with amusements and family-friendly activities.
A major draw of living and working in Bournemouth is that it gets 7.7 hours of sunshine a day, in the summer, well above the UK average of 3.8.
If you want a break from beautiful beaches, you can visit Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Boscombe Chine Gardens, the Lower Gardens or Bournemouth Natural Science Society. There’s regular live music at Bournemouth International Centre, or you can take a trip in the small funicular cliff lift.
Around 200 years old, Bournemouth has literary and musical connections. J.R.R Tolkien was a frequent visitor and moved to Bournemouth after publishing The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings trilogy. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ at ‘Skerryvore’ house in Westbourne. You can choose from several literary walking tours and also visit Frankenstein author Mary Shelley’s grave, in St Peter’s Church.
The Beatles were huge fans of Bournemouth, with the city playing host to the third most concerts, after Liverpool and London. You can still visit some of the famous venues they played, including the Gaumont cinema, now the Odeon.
Interestingly, Bournemouth only has one street – Orchard Street, as all the other ‘streets’ have different suffixes such as lane, crescent, mouth, road, path, square and triangle.
Two hours on the train from London, Bournemouth has fantastic road and rail links to destinations such as Southampton, Oxford, and Birmingham.
For international travel, the ferry port of Poole is a mere six miles away, and Bournemouth Airport offers plenty of long and short-haul flights.
Degree apprenticeships in Bournemouth
Degree apprenticeships involve a UK business partnering with a renowned university to enable successful candidates to study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, alongside a paid job in their chosen field.
Bournemouth is home to three world-class universities, Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth and AECC University College.
Bournemouth University offers degree apprenticeships in healthcare, engineering, and law, business and accounting. At Arts University Bournemouth, you will find workshops, guest speakers and webinars to help your learning. AECC University College is now the Health Sciences University and provides apprenticeships in various aspects of healthcare, from podiatry and diagnostic radiography to speech and language and occupational therapy.
Industry spotlight
Almost every business will have some kind of digital marketing presence, be it in-house or working with an agency.
Digital marketing apprenticeships encompass a range of disciplines, from content creation and copywriting to SEO, social media and event management, to help prepare you for a career in the industry.
Jobs include:
- Content Marketing Specialist
- SEO Manager
- Digital Marketing Assistant/
- Social Media Manager
- Head of Digital Strategy
Companies such as Redweb and BlueThirst offer these kinds of apprenticeships in Bournemouth.
As mentioned, there are several graphic design and animation companies based in Bournemouth, and jobs come up regularly.
Job titles in this field include:
- Animator
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Web designer
- Motions graphics designer
You can hone your skills with a Multi-Channel Level 3 Marketer Apprenticeship, which includes some graphic design at Bournemouth & Poole College.
Keep an eye on local graphic design and animation companies’ websites to stay up to date with new apprenticeship positions.
Finance is an evergreen industry that offers long-term job security, competitive salaries and clear career progression.
The biggest employer in Bournemouth is finance giant JPMorgan Chase, and they offer a series of finance apprenticeships, including asset and wealth management, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and consumer and community banking.
If you are more interested in the actuarial and insurance side of the sector, AXA UK provides Level 2 to Level 7 apprenticeships in Claims, Finance, Actuarial, Underwriting and more.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are the UK equivalent of paid internships in America.
Funded by the UK government, they combine 80% paid hands-on work, with 20% studying for nationally recognised qualifications. The aim is to improve the British workforce through inclusivity, diversity and upskilling.
The structure is as follows:
Level 2 (Intermediate) – equivalent to 5 GCSE passes
Level 3 (Advanced) – equivalent to 2 A Level passes
Levels 4- 5 (Higher) – equivalent to a foundation degree
Levels 6-7 (Degree) – equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree
Apprenticeships are provided by UK businesses and educational establishments, such as colleges and universities.
The basic entry requirements to apply for an apprenticeship are:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must not be in full-time education
- You must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
Other requirements will vary between providers, so always check before you apply.
Most UK apprenticeships do not have a maximum age, unless it relates to the physical ability to perform the job, so they are also suitable for older people wanting to change careers or learn a new skill.
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
A Leg-Up on the Competition
Being a successful apprentice means you have already impressed your boss enough to earn your place. An apprenticeship is an excellent way of getting a leg up on the competition.
Not only are you learning practical skills and the theory to back them up, but you are making contacts and growing your network.
This is all helpful when going for competitive positions.
Money in Your Pocket
Unlike work experience or an unpaid internship, UK apprentices are guaranteed to earn at least the national minimum wage for their age group. This means you will take home a decent wage at the end of each month and have the financial security of a regular income for the duration of your apprenticeship. Not only that, but your employer dictates your salary, so, you may earn more than the minimum.
A Greater Selection
Recent research indicates a 1.3% rise in apprenticeships in the UK for 2024/2025 from 2023/2024.
This rise in programmes means you have a greater selection to choose from in terms of companies, industries, and locations.
Remember that apprenticeships are still competitive, so you still need to shine in your application.
Get a Headstart
Apprenticeships are typically shorter than traditional college and university courses, giving you the chance to bypass the competition who are on the full-time studying route.
The standard length of an apprenticeship is 12 months to three years, compared to up to seven years for a university course.
It is a personal choice, and apprenticeships don’t suit everyone, but they do offer a fast track to success in many cases.
You can study for GCSEs, A Levels, a bachelor’s or master’s degree, all the while working and earning money. There are also apprenticeships dedicated to achieving industry-specific qualifications, such as a rank in the British armed forces.
On Your Doorstep
The increase in apprenticeships also means that you are more likely to find what you are looking for closer to home.
In years gone by, you would likely have needed to be willing to move to London or another big UK city to pursue a specialist apprenticeship.
Today, you’ll find there are hundreds or even thousands of businesses offering apprenticeships in your area.
More apprenticeships also means more resources and potentially remote access.
Some apprenticeships offer remote learning and a work-from-home position, increasing inclusivity for someone with additional needs.
Do you want to know more? Apply for an apprenticeship today!
You can find all the latest apprenticeships in Bournemouth in one place by using our location and subject search filters.
We’ve also created school subject and industry pages to offer a little bit more inspiration.
Still have questions? Or just need a friendly ear to bend about your options? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Get in touch, and we’ll get back to you asap!
