Sheffield Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships in Sheffield

As part of the Government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ initiative, Sheffield provides many apprenticeship opportunities across the public and private sectors. Home to national institutes such as Royal Mail, Aviva and HSBC UK, the city also boasts significant bases for global companies such as Amazon, Tesco, Capita, and BT.

With two top universities, the glorious backdrop of the Peak District, a rising economy and a relatively low cost of living, there is a lot to like about Sheffield.

Let’s delve a little bit deeper into Sheffield apprenticeships and career opportunities and learn more about this geographically diverse city. 

Careers in Sheffield

A wide range of Sheffield university apprenticeships are available, from nursing and clinical psychology to welding and engineering. Other prominent industries include retail, healthcare, trades and construction, public administration and more.

Sheffield apprenticeships are funded equally by your employer and the Government, so there’s no student debt to worry about when you graduate. All UK apprentices are also paid a fair wage to help with living costs. During your apprenticeship, you will earn a degree or similar qualification, learn practical skills on the job under expert tutelage, and build a network of contacts. 

When you graduate, you may choose to stay in your current role or leave to pursue other opportunities. Either way, you will have increased your desirability as an employee. 
Are you looking to change careers? An adult apprenticeship is one path to retraining.

Top employers

In Sheffield, you will find many apprenticeship career opportunities in both the private and public sectors. Industries offering apprentices include financial services, retail, transport, and IT. Some of Sheffield’s best apprenticeship employers include: 

  • Royal Mail
  • HSBC
  • Aviva
  • NHS
  • ARUP
  • ARM Holdings
  • Capita
  • IBM
  • Virgin Media
  • McLaren Automotive

‘World-renowned art festivals, live music, Olympic sports facilities, and gorgeous architecture add to the city’s many charms.’

Industry spotlight

Retail Apprenticeships

Companies such as Amazon, NEXT, Tesco, Apple, and Primark all have a significant presence in Sheffield, with many more large retailers operating in the city. A retail apprenticeship can instill in you the skills and characteristics needed to thrive in a busy retail environment. That’s not limited to the shop floor, though. You can also parlay a retail apprenticeship into a career in UX, logistics, visual merchandising or optimisation.

Find out more

Finance Apprenticeships

Financial heavyweights, including HSBC and Santander, have large bases in Sheffield. Furthermore, a financial services apprenticeship can be an asset in multiple industries. While banking apprenticeships are designed to work in banks, accounting apprenticeships and financial advisor apprenticeships can open up many possible career paths.

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Trade/Construction Apprenticeships

Although Sheffield isn’t quite the industrial hub it once was, there are still plenty of career opportunities in trades such as welding, plumbing, and electrical. Reputable companies offer a wide range of construction and trade apprenticeships in Sheffield. Once you have learned a trade and obtained the required qualifications, you can often work anywhere, setting your rates as your experience and reputation rise.

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Degree Apprenticeships

Degree apprenticeships in Sheffield

A UK company wanting to run an apprenticeship scheme must partner with a reputable university in the area. Sheffield has two such institutions, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.

You can apply for university apprenticeships in subjects such as nursing and clinical psychology. Alternatively, AMRC Sheffield apprenticeships are advanced apprenticeships at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre. Here you can learn skills such as engineering, welding, and metal fabricating. 

Apprentices in Sheffield can look forward to a bright future with many exciting career opportunities.

Software Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an apprenticeship?

 Apprenticeships can be summarised broadly as having four Key Benefits:

  1. Earn a fair wage
  2. Government/company-funded study
  3. Get a qualification and learn new skills 
  4. Be mentored and gain valuable contacts

Living and working in Sheffield

Known as the ‘Steel City’, Sheffield is South Yorkshire’s largest city and is home to more than half a million residents. Located on the river Don, in the foothills of the Pennines, it is both the UK’s first most populous city and one of the greenest cities in Europe. 

This is partly due to its proximity to the Peak District National Park, coupled with the 250+ parklands, woodlands, and public gardens within its borders. 

With the largest theatre complex outside of London, several shops, independent cafes, restaurants, bars, plus museums and art galleries, there’s always something to see and do. 

World-renowned art festivals, live music, Olympic sports facilities, and gorgeous architecture add to the city’s many charms. 

Sheffield represents excellent value for money, with the average house price around £200,000 in 2020, compared to London’s £650,000+. The city is ethnically diverse and friendly and offers highly rated schools and colleges.

Once at the forefront of the industrial revolution, Sheffield benefited from mass regeneration. Over the years, the city has evolved into a hub for both the private and public sectors.

Prominent industries in Sheffield include retail, financial services, healthcare and sciences, IT, and trades.

Kickstart your career

Why choose an apprenticeship?

Fair Wage Guaranteed

All UK apprenticeships are backed by the apprentice minimum wage scheme. Sheffield apprentices in all industries are guaranteed at least the minimum wage. You will be fairly paid for your work and may even be paid much more, depending on the company. Some are known to offer high pay to attract the best candidates.

A Fully-Paid-For Degree

The cost of a degree can put people off going to university. With a university apprenticeship, your degree is paid for jointly by your employer and the UK Government. Combined with your liveable wage, this leaves you free to focus on your job and your studies, without worrying about student loans. You will graduate with no debts and, hopefully, a headstart in your chosen career.

Be Mentored by Experts

As part of your apprenticeship, you will be mentored by senior members of staff and classroom tutors. Having a mentor can make all the difference when it comes to succeeding in the working world, particularly in challenging environments. Your mentors will also conduct regular evaluations and give honest constructive feedback, to ensure you are excelling in the programme. 

Level Up

There are four levels of UK apprenticeships – Intermediate, Advanced, Higher, and Degree.

Each level represents a different classification of learning and will carry its own entry requirements. Having said that, every apprenticeship is different. So, do your research to ensure you know what’s required before you apply.

Completing an apprenticeship can help you progress in your chosen career or even switch roles or industries. 

New Apprenticeships, A Wider Choice

With incentives to businesses (such as the apprentice levy), a government push, and a collective effort to close the ever-growing skills gap in the UK, more companies and universities are joining forces to develop apprenticeship programmes. The involvement of more companies across different industries has already led to much greater diversity between apprenticeships. 

The Right Apprenticeship For You

Sheffield apprenticeships cover industries including welding, nursing, engineering retail, financial services, healthcare, and public administration, to name but a few. And more apprenticeships are developed each year. If you choose an apprenticeship, you can be sure you’ll get the best possible training and real-world experience to prepare you for a career in your chosen industry. 

Not sure what field you want to work in? Our best industry apprenticeships page can provide inspiration or point you in the right direction. 

We are here to help, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

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