Apprenticeships in Brighton

Brighton is best known for its award-winning beach and iconic pier. It may surprise you that it is also leading the way in AI. 

IT & digital and marketing are big business in Brighton. Other prominent sectors include biotech, energy solutions, hospitality and healthcare. Companies with a significant presence include Apple, GSK, American Express, Roche, and Octopus Energy.

Careers in Brighton

Oxfordshire is rich in diverse businesses, such as publishing, health and social care, education and finance. In recent years, it has also become a hub for scienThe main industry is still tourism, but Brighton is becoming known as a tech haven, with start-ups, AI, and gaming companies calling the city home. 

Brighton is ranked the 20th best place to launch a start-up in the UK, and many businesses have done just that. There’s an 87% business survival rate, so if you are an entrepreneur or prefer to work for a smaller company, you’re in the right place. 

The annual Brighton Digital Festival is held in October, so you can keep up with the latest digital companies to call the city home. 

Not a tech head? Don’t worry, there are plenty of jobs in hospitality and tourism, health and science, and energy solutions.

In February 2025, Brighton and Hove City Council joined forces with some local businesses to launch 50 new apprenticeship vacancies in just 5 days to mark National Apprenticeship Week (10-14 February).

An apprenticeship in Brighton could be the start of a bright future. Let’s find out more. 

Top employers in Brighton

Some of the most prominent employers in Brighton include:

BBC Careers
Software Engineering Apprenticeships
Year 13 Work Experience ideas

Living and working in Brighton

Ranked 34th in Time Out’s 50 best cities in the world in 2025, Brighton has a lot to offer. 

Popular with students, young professionals, families and retirees alike, it is a vibrant coastal city with plenty of attractions and entertainment.

It is also the destination for over half a million visitors each year.

Known for its inclusivity and diversity, Brighton has a large LGBTQ+ community, lots of expats, and a thriving arts and culture scene.

Award-winning eateries are abundant, including plenty of vegan fayre, excellent bars and nightclubs, with pop-up venues offering short-term delights.

Brighton has major green credentials as one of the UK’s most eco-friendly cities, evidenced by ethical supermarkets and zero-waste cafes. 

The city’s legendary seafront graffiti murals and vintage shops – such as the 90 unique stalls of Snoopers Paradise, plus record stores and independent shops add to Brighton’s cool factor.

The proximity to the seaside, a mild climate and tourism have made living in Brighton somewhat expensive. However, it is still cheaper than living in London, making it a popular choice for commuters. 

A walkable city with a bike-sharing scheme, Brighton also has excellent road and rail transport links to London, Gatwick Airport and Southampton, among other destinations.  

With pop-up events, festivals, startups, and several small businesses, Brighton is a fantastic place to start your career and boost your employability with an apprenticeship. 

Degree apprenticeships in Brighton

Degree apprenticeships are run in conjunction with a reputable university, and Brighton has two – the University of Sussex and Brighton University.

The former, in particular, is highly regarded, and both offer several levels 6 and 7 apprenticeships, enabling students to work while earning a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. 

At the University of Sussex, you will find apprenticeships in data analytics, data science and AI, and advanced manufacturing engineering.

Apprenticeships at Brighton University include teaching, digital, construction, health and science. 

Industry spotlight

With so many tech companies and new startups popping up regularly, a digital apprenticeship can teach you the skills you need to get hired and be part of something new.

Learn to build apps, develop hardware and software for different sectors or help keep information secure – it’s up to you.
3aaa.co.uk is just one company offering many digital apprenticeships Level 3 and above including Cyber Intrusion Analyst, Software Tester, Digital Marketing, Network Engineer and IT, Web, Software and Telecoms.

The abundance of tourists visiting Brighton every year means there are plenty of opportunities to work in tourism in the city. 

From museum curators, tour guides, and coach drivers to chefs, hotel receptionists, and spa managers, many positions fall under this banner.

Apprenticeships under this banner may include event planning, customer service, responsible tourism and more. 
You can find apprenticeships through Brighton & Hove City Council, Brighton Metropolitan College and private companies throughout the city.

Brighton is also an excellent base for a career in health and science.

Companies including the Virtual Doctors, Deafkidz International, Prometheus Science, Stingray Bio, and Faace all call the city home, providing plenty of work opportunities. 

The University of Brighton offers health and science apprenticeships from level 5 to level 7, including nursing associates, physiotherapists, social workers, and advanced clinical practitioners. 

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a government initiative where young people and those looking for a career change can study for industry-recognised qualifications while working and earning a living wage. 

Jointly funded by the government and UK businesses and education providers, they are designed to provide opportunities to a more diverse cross-section of society.

Through an apprenticeship, employees can learn new skills and gain the qualifications they need to progress in their careers.

With an 80/20 work to study ratio, apprentices can focus on their jobs and exams while being paid a fair wage and not having to worry about tuition fees.

Participating companies receive financial incentives and benefit from better-trained, more highly skilled staff. 

Boost Your Employability

Why Choose an Apprenticeship?

Hands-On Experience

Apprentices in Brighton will be given responsibility and access to shadow more senior members of staff to accelerate their learning. 

Backed up by theory and academic lessons, apprentices learn how to perform tasks necessary to their jobs in real-world situations.

Earn a Decent Wage

The minimum you can earn as an apprentice is the living wage for your age group.

However, many apprentices earn significantly more, as wages are at the employer’s discretion. Some companies will pay their apprentices more than the minimum required to attract and retain the best staff.  

More Apprenticeships = More Successful Candidates

After a slight decline following the pandemic, apprenticeships are officially on the rise again, up 1.3% for 2024/2025 from the previous year. 

For would-be apprentices, this means there are more apprenticeships to apply for and a higher chance of being successful. 

Apprenticeships are competitive, but with more companies offering more placements, more young people and adult apprenticeships are getting the chance to reach their full potential. 

Level Up Fast

Apprenticeships typically last 12 months to 3 years, enabling apprentices to fast-track their learning and gain qualifications faster than the traditional university route. 

UK apprenticeships are categorised 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

You can also study for required licenses and chartered status in industries such as architecture and accounting. 

Make a Contribution 

Apprentices are employees just like their colleagues and tend to have more responsibility and impact on the business than a junior member of staff would normally. On an apprenticeship, you can put forward your ideas, set wheels in motion and make a significant contribution to your chosen industry.

Find Your Fit

UK apprenticeships started as an alternative to academia and were initially focused on the trades.

Over the years, more and more industries have woken up to the potential apprentices bring and begun to offer apprenticeships in most fields of interest.

Today, you can find an apprenticeship for everything from aerospace to sound engineering, from teaching and medicine to police and the British Armed Forces. So, there is sure to be something to suit your skills and interests.

Brighton offers a diverse selection of apprenticeships, from IT & Digital, biotech, and data analysis to education and healthcare.

So, if you want to live and work in this vibrant city, now is the time to apply.

You can search the latest apprenticeships in Brighton by subject or scroll through our industry and school leaver pages.