Business Apprenticeships
What are the best apprenticeships for business brains?
Are you a budding entrepreneur? Do you understand what makes a business successful? Want to learn how to manage a project or develop products?
Consider studying for an apprenticeship in business.

Why Business is useful for apprenticeships
Business is an overarching term that covers many sectors, including management, administration, finance, accounting and recruitment.
A business apprenticeship can help you to succeed in any of these fields and others, such as advertising and marketing.
You will learn the skills you need to be an asset to most employers or start your own business.
As a business apprenticeship (particularly at entry level) is fairly general, you can apply your knowledge and learned skills to just about any position you are applying for.
Transferable skills
Studying business gives you an appreciation of the many ins and outs involved in running a company.
Skills such as time management, initiative, clear communication and work ethic will stand you in good stead in any avenue of business.
At school, you should have learned how to lead and also be a valuable member of a team.
Believe or not, participating in team sports can be used in lieu of a CV to show these attributes.
Similarly, any volunteering, coaching, or even babysitting can show you are dependable and responsible. Awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award or Young Enterprise will also help boost your application.
Intermediate roles
Once you have received your GCSE results, you have a choice to make, do you:
- Go to college and then university?
- Get a job – likely to be a low-paid position?
- Apply for an apprenticeship?
Many factors will contribute to your decision, such as your results and your financial status. Today, we are just looking at apprenticeships.
For many, apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds – you get to join the workforce, earn a living wage and continue to study.
The first level of UK apprenticeships is Level 2, also known as intermediate or entry-level apprenticeships.
Ideal for school leavers, intermediate apprenticeships are also a positive step for someone older who wishes to change careers.
Entry Requirements
These mandatory requirements are the same for all UK apprenticeships:
- You must be 16 or older
- You must not be in full-time education
- You must have the right to live and work in the UK
UK apprenticeships are partly funded by the Government and partly funded by private employers and universities.
Every UK apprenticeship must comply with national standards to be approved. However, different providers may have personal requirements.
Depending on the provider, you will typically require a good GCSE or equivalent in the core subjects of English and Maths. A good GCSE pass in Business or Economics would be an advantage.
You will need to be self-motivated, hard-working and confident.
Qualifications gained
An entry-level apprenticeship is equivalent to five good GCSE passes.
Level 2 business apprenticeships include:
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Advanced/Higher/Degree targeted at A-Level
Following on from a Level 2 apprenticeship, you can attend university or progress to a higher level of apprenticeship, as below:
- Level 3 – advanced apprenticeships
- Levels 4 and 5 – higher apprenticeships
- Levels 6 and 7 – degree-level apprenticeships
Level 3+ apprenticeships are typically longer, more specific and more complex/in-depth conveyed by the qualification you earn upon completion.
Entry Requirements
To study for an advanced business apprenticeship, you will likely need good GCSEs in English language, Maths, and business, finance or economics.
Higher and degree apprenticeships will usually need A levels in English language and a specialism such as those noted above.
Qualifications gained
For each level of apprenticeship, you will study for a corresponding qualification:
- Advanced apprenticeship = 2 A-Level passes.
- Higher apprenticeship = a foundation degree
- Degree apprenticeship = a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, depending on your level of study.
Advanced, higher and degree business apprenticeships include:
Industry Focus
Those who can create mistake-free, clever content across different mediums have their pick of companies and industries.
A few of the best UK apprenticeships for word wizards include:
Entrepreneurs are inventors, sales representatives, and business managers. They have to wear many hats and have a strong belief in their products or services.
Business owners are not necessarily entrepreneurs, but they can be. They could also be someone who has bought a business after development.
Many entrepreneurs and business owners are also employed either full-time or part-time elsewhere, especially when their business is in the start-up stages.
British Airways and EY, offer ‘aspiring leaders’ apprenticeships.
The NHS has a clinical entrepreneurship programme, and you can find more entrepreneur programmes in the UK via Startups.
Finally, Fortune Entrepreneur is a global apprenticeship programme designed to nurture budding entrepreneurs.
Business managers and consultants exist in almost every sector, from hospitality and entertainment to construction and logistics. Business managers may have the same job and clients for many years, while project managers and consultants typically oversee specific projects.
For example, a new product development manager researches and tests ideas to create new products for a particular business or sector. A project manager plans and oversees all aspects of a project from start to finish, liaising with clients and stakeholders to bring a vision to life.
You can find management and consultancy apprenticeships at Aldi, KPMG, and Aon.
Business Development is concerned with finding and acquiring new business. Administration is more focused on the day-to-day running of a company. This can include finance, data analysis and accounting.
Talent acquisition is both an administrative task and a form of business development, as new people can mean new skills that can bring in new business.
HR is closely linked to recruitment but involves looking after the staff’s needs. It can cross over with recruitment.
Administration may also be called ‘operations’ and most likely be for a commercial business. Business development could be for any type of business, including non-profit fundraising.
Organisations such as the NHS and Siemens offer Business Administration apprenticeships.
Other Opportunities
Other options include:
- Training and development manager
- Sales representative
- Grant writer
- Philanthropy manager
- Material planner
- Supplier relations manager
- Inventory manager
- Director of financial planning
- Chief investment officer
- Facilities manager
- Vice president of finance
- Sports agent
- Event planner
- Restauranter
- Festival director
Conclusion
As you can see, a business apprenticeship can open many doors across several industries. We hope this short guide to business careers and apprenticeships has been helpful.
To find business apprenticeships in your area, use our topic and location search filters.
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