Apprenticeships in Norwich
The only English city inside a National Park. Norwich also offers attractive architecture, affordable housing and a burgeoning business sector.
Significant employers include Lotus, Aviva (formerly Norwich Union), Marsh, Virgin Money, Royal Bank of Scotland and Central Trust Capital.
Careers in Norwich
Norwich has a lot going for it in terms of starting a career or building a business.
Business rates are affordable, it is a recognised centre for technology and innovation, and was the highest performing city in the East of England in the PwC’s 2023 ‘Good Growth for Cities’ Index.
Prominent business sectors in Norwich include Construction and Property, Maritime & Logistics, Energy and the Environment, Health and Life Sciences, Creative, Digital & Technology, Financial, Professional and Business Services, and Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing.
A popular place for a day out, Norwich attracts over 40 million daytrippers a year, with 12 million staying overnight.
This creates job opportunities in hospitality, leisure, and retail.
The biggest employer in the area is The National Health Service, with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital alone accounting for 8,000 jobs.
The latest apprentice jobs in Norwich
-
British Sugar Apprenticeships Scheme
British SugarUK -
Higher & Degree Apprenticeship – Commercial
Barratt RedrowNorwich -
Apprentice Systems Designer – Marine and Navy – Wymondham
Johnson ControlsNorwich, Wymondham, Norwich -
Enterprise Light Vehicle Technician Apprenticeship
EnterpriseNorwich -
Apprentice Service Engineer – Fire and Security – Wymondham
Johnson ControlsNorwich, Wymondham, Norwich -
Sky Apprenticeships (Register Interest)
SkyUK
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search all jobs.
Top employers in Norwich
Living and working in Norwich
Named in the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live in the UK’ 2025, Norwich offers an excellent work/life balance, a diverse business profile and a great standard of living.
Set in the picturesque Norfolk Broads, Norwich homes are surprisingly affordable, over 20.24% lower than the national average, and over 55.36% lower than in London. (2024). Combine this with a fantastic choice of more than 50 schools and two award-winning universities, and you can see why Norwich was named one of Britain’s top 10 cities to live and work in (The Telegraph).
There’s plenty to see and do, with top attractions in the city, including the stunning Medieval Norwich Cathedral, Felbrigg Hall and grounds, Norwich Castle, the Victorian Plantation Garden, and the beautiful Broads National Park.
Norwich has a vibrant arts and culture scene, with multiple theatres, venues and festivals showcasing a mix of local and global talents. There’s superb antiquing to be done in St Gregory’s and All Saints Westlegate, and plenty of quirky independent shops, bars, and eateries, plus high-street favourites.
A student city, Norwich has an eclectic nightlife, with popular venues like the Bowling House combining cocktails and karaoke with food and bowling.
You can walk or cycle around Norwich with e-scooters and Beryl bikes dotted across the city. There are regularly running buses, too.
Just shy of two hours by rail to London, Norwich is a relatively short train journey from Manchester, Sheffield, Cambridge, and Nottingham
Degree apprenticeships in Norwich
The highest level of apprenticeships, Degree apprenticeships are typically 3-5 year programmes where you study at a respected university for your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree while working in your chosen profession.
Norwich has two universities, the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norwich University of the Arts (NUA).
At UEA, you will find foundation and bachelor’s degree apprenticeships in higher education, nursing, social work and applied biomedical sciences.
Industry spotlight
Healthcare is not only one of the most significant industries in Norwich but the world. Training as a healthcare apprentice can see you on the path to a challenging but rewarding career with some flexibility where you work.
There are numerous roles in healthcare, from microbiology to oral surgery, that no longer require lengthy and expensive traditional university courses.
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital offers a range of apprenticeships from healthcare support worker and student nurse roles to speech and language therapists, podiatry, and sterile services technicians.
More than 4,100 maritime and logistics businesses operate within Norfolk and Suffolk, creating a workforce of 48,700 people.
This is an interesting and diverse sector, with jobs including:
- Freight Forwarder
- Depot Manager
- Workboat Skipper
- Commodity Buyer
- Supplier Development Engineer
Companies such as Concorde BGW Group and uniserve offer apprenticeships in various areas of the industry, including distribution, freight, and central functions.
Learning a trade is an invaluable skill, and many modern manufacturing jobs are based on practical skills such as joinery.
Manufacturing is simply ‘making’ and crosses into many industries, such as food, aerospace, car parts and construction.
There are several manufacturing apprenticeships available in Norwich and the surrounding area, provided by companies such as Anglian Home Improvements and Thompson Commercials.
What is an apprenticeship?
Traditionally, school leavers either got a job or stayed in education, studying and gaining qualifications to get a better position further down the line.
An apprenticeship is a Government-funded initiative that blends the two. As an apprentice, you will work for a real UK business, learning the ropes and earning a salary. But you will also continue your studies, paid for by the government.
The split is usually 80/20 in favour of paid work.
This means those previously prohibited from going to university due to tuition costs can now train in their chosen profession while earning a salary.
Apprenticeships also enable older professionals to upskill and change careers, creating a more diverse and skilled UK workforce.
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Be Part of a Team
UK apprentices join companies as valued members of the team. You will be given the opportunity to learn on the job from respected colleagues who can also help you gain contacts and pass your assessments.
Wage Potential
All UK apprentices are guaranteed to earn at least the minimum wage for their age group, with the potential for more at their employer’s discretion..
Since apprenticeships include qualifications, you will typically earn by completing an apprenticeship.
An Increase in Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship programmes are up 1.3% for 2024/2025 from the previous year, indicating that more businesses are seeing the benefits of hiring apprentices and are willing to open more roles.
This increase in apprenticeships means you are more likely to find a company offering a programme you want to be part of in your chosen location. You are also more likely to be successful with more spaces available.
Qualify Quicker
Most UK apprenticeships last between 12 months and 3 years. By contrast, a university degree course can take anywhere from three to seven years.
Each UK apprenticeship corresponds to a qualification you can earn by completing the course, 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
This means you could earn GCSEs, A Levels or even a Master’s degree faster than if you go the traditional route.
Some UK apprenticeships are geared towards apprentices gaining specific industry qualifications, such as becoming a chartered accountant or attaining a rank in the British army.
New Ideas
Apprentices tend to be young and are valued by their employers for offering a new take on what may be old procedures and systems.
Don’t be afraid to put new ideas forward, particularly if they will improve the business.
Your Choice
Once apprenticeships were so competitive and rare that you had to apply for as many as possible, regardless of relevance or location, and hope for the best.
Today, while we still advise applying for more than one apprenticeship at a time to increase your chance of success, you can afford to be a bit more picky.
You can look for apprenticeships with the company or at least in the industry you want to work in.
Apprenticeships began with the trades but have evolved over the years, with businesses of all sizes offering exciting opportunities for talented apprentices.
Think Norwich sounds like the place for you? Apply for an apprenticeship today!
All the latest apprenticeships in Norwich can be found using our search functions. You can also view our school leaver and industry pages for further inspiration.
Have a question we haven’t covered?
We’d love to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
