Apprenticeships in Cambridge
Perhaps best known for its historic 13th-century buildings and world-class university, Cambridge is also a hub of technology and innovation. There are several research institutes and thousands of businesses from start-ups to global names.
Companies including Green Energy Options Ltd, Agri-TechE, Amazon, Astra Zeneca, RedVenture, and many more are headquartered or have a prominent presence in Cambridge.
Careers in Cambridge
Cambridge is home to over 10,000 businesses, with over 500 of those in manufacturing. The city is a hotbed of advanced and hi-tech manufacturing, but it is also renowned for agriculture, bioscience and healthcare, clean tech, digital technology, and tourism.
The home of the discovery of DNA and stem cell research, it is no surprise that Cambridge offers many careers in bioscience, but many other areas of study are open to apprentices in Cambridge.
With 8.1 million visitors descending on Cambridge every year, tourism and hospitality are big business.
There are also opportunities if you are looking for a career in the arts.
Footlights is a University of Cambridge comedy club that has spawned the likes of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, among many other talents.
Cambridge came second in Glassdoor’s 25 Best UK Towns and Cities to Work In, with ‘hot jobs’ including Product Assistant, Solution Architect, and Data Scientist.
The latest apprentice jobs in Cambridge
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Sky Apprenticeships (Register Interest)
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National Trust Apprenticeship Scheme
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National Grid Apprenticeship Schemes
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BMW Apprenticeships 2025 (Register Interest)
BMWUK -
PwC Apprenticeship Programme 2025
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JP Morgan Apprentice Schemes
JP MorganUK
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search all jobs.
Top employers in Cambridge
Cambridge plays host to a wealth of local and global businesses that are either headquartered or have a significant presence in the city, including:
Living and working in Cambridge
Cambridge is the cycling capital of the UK, with an estimated 55% of the population travelling by bike. This makes sense as the city is almost completely flat, and the scenery is stunning.
If you’re a fan of architecture, you’ll be in heaven in Cambridge. The university alone boasts myriad beautiful buildings from the 11th century onwards, with 100+ libraries, churches and the free-to-enter Fitzwilliam museum, to name just a few.
The best views can be found at Cambridge Castle, also known as Cambridge Mound, a mere five-minute walk from the city centre.
Other green spaces include the magnificent University Botanic Gardens, home to 8,000+ plant species from around the world. You can also go punting or rowing on the river Cam, named after the city. Cambridge also has its own beautiful Bridge of Sighs, inspired by and named after the original structure in Venice, Italy.
You are spoilt for choice with food and drinks. Enjoy a Chelsea bun at 1920s cafe Fitzbillies, grab some street food from one of the stalls that regularly pop up around the city, or head to The Eagle for more traditional pub fayre and a history lesson to boot.
Cambridge is also unusual in that its open-air market runs almost every day.
If you want to get out of the city, the nearby picturesque village of Grantchester offers traditional pubs and wild swimming and picnics at Grantchester meadows.
With one of the world’s best universities, world-leading research institutes and much more on your doorstep, the career opportunities in Cambridge are endless.
Degree apprenticeships in Cambridge
An alternative to a traditional university degree course, degree apprenticeships enable students to achieve a degree while earning a living wage and gaining practical experience working in their chosen industry.
The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s top universities, alongside Oxford. It offers over 670 apprenticeships, including Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care, Digital & Technology, Engineering, Libraries & Archives, Hospitality & Catering, and Project Management.
The city also has a second university, Anglia Ruskin University (or ARU), which offers degree apprenticeships, including the relatively new Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.
Industry spotlight
With advanced and hi-tech manufacturing accounting for so many jobs in Cambridge, it’s not surprising that you can find plenty of engineering, manufacturing and technical apprenticeships.
Cambridge Regional College offers a Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship designed to give apprentices the knowledge and experience they need in every aspect of engineering, to upskill their businesses.
Companies such as Kier and Marshall Aerospace offer this type of apprenticeship.
Despite its famed buildings, Cambridge is a rural city and is also known for its cows and fertile land.
Cambridge therefore has a vested interest in training agriculturists, veterinarians and environmental care professionals.
You will find the three disciples categorised together but with specific apprenticeships, such as Horticulture and Landscape Operative or Veterinary Nurse available.
There are several health and science apprenticeships available in Cambridge. A broad term, health and science include dental technicians, environmental health practitioners, laboratory scientists, and food technologists, among other roles. Companies such as AstraZeneca and Cambridge Bioscience Limited offer this type of apprenticeship in and around the city.
What is an apprenticeship?
In a nutshell, an apprenticeship is a Government-funded initiative encouraging those not inclined or unable to attend university to study for industry-recognised qualifications while working and being paid a living wage.
Businesses pay the remainder of the tuition to attract new talent and upskill existing staff. Apprentices benefit from a lack of student debt and the opportunity to combine studying with a full-time job in their preferred sector.
Enhance Your Employability
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Learn From The Best
Apprentices working in Cambridge will shadow and learn from senior members of staff in their workplace, benefiting from their experience, guidance and contacts.
Employers and colleagues can help apprentices manage their time between work and studies and navigate their assessments. This kind of personal support can bring out the best in apprentices, to their and the company’s benefit.
Earn a Living Wage
As a UK apprentice, you are guaranteed to earn at least the minimum wage for your age group, taking the pressure off paying bills while studying. It is possible to earn far more than the minimum wage, as many employers are happy to pay higher wages for a higher calibre of apprentice.
Apprenticeships Are On The Rise
After a dip in popularity in recent years, UK apprenticeships are up 1.3% for 2024/2025 from the previous year. As the demand for new courses and better standards increases, more apprentices will benefit. UK businesses also reap the rewards, with higher skilled employees and increased diversity.
Achieve More
The lowest level of UK apprenticeships is Level 2 (Intermediate); you can then move on to Level 3 (Advanced), Levels 4- 5 (Higher), and Levels 6-7 (Degree) if you so choose.
Apprenticeships are competitive, but they are often concerned more with your potential than your current qualifications. Particularly entry-level programmes.
This means even if you didn’t get the grades you wanted, you may be accepted and gain the chance to work and study in the job you want.
Level 3 and above apprenticeships can help you gain the necessary qualifications to specialise or work at the highest level.
Industry-Recognised Qualifications
Depending on the level and subject of your apprenticeship, you can earn the equivalent of GCSEs up to a degree or even a Master’s. But that’s not all. Some apprenticeships offer the chance to complete industry-required practical and theory assessments necessary to work at a high level in certain industries. With the right apprenticeships, you can become a chartered member, a teacher, a police officer, or a senior officer in the British Armed Forces.
You will be doing relevant work and be fairly compensated for your time and efforts. Best of all, you will graduate with no debt.
Your Ideal Apprenticeship
The first UK apprenticeships tended to focus on the trades. Today, you will find apprenticeships across every sector in an ever-growing range of roles, including highly specialised skills.
Professions which once required a decade of study and thousands of pounds in fees can be achieved through a mix of shorter study programmes and practical placements.
Cambridge offers young people and those looking to switch careers a smorgasbord of opportunities in industries as diverse as agriculture and museum curating. You can work in education, hospitality or healthcare, to name but a few.
So, what do you want to do? To help you decide, you can browse the latest apprenticeships in Cambridge by subject or check out our industry and school leaver pages.
