Politics Apprenticeships
What are the best apprenticeships for politically-minded students?
Are you a natural leader? Do you have the courage of your convictions? Do you want to improve the quality of life?
Consider a politics-based apprenticeship in the UK.
Why Politics is useful for apprenticeships
The word politics comes from the ancient Greek ‘politika’, meaning ‘affairs of the cities’, and relates to group decisions and the division of power and resources.
Politics occur at every level of society, from local Government to the leader of the free world. Politics can also occur in workplaces, hence the term ‘office politics’.
There are many roles in politics, from ‘front-of-house’ politicians to the many ‘backroom’ staff that make it possible for them to do their jobs.
Learning about politics and the skills needed to succeed through a political apprenticeship could be the first step you need to embark on an exciting and rewarding career.
Transferable skills
Politicians are leaders, decision-makers and orators. They need to be confident, persuasive and personable for voters to relate to them. Being captain of a school sports team may give you many of the skills you will need.
Writing and/or delivering speeches with clarity and authority can be learned in drama, and you may have been taught how to debate in English or social studies.
But politics is more than figurehead politicians. They don’t work alone.
Political researchers, analysts, aides, marketeers and more make up a strong team.
Research skills are invaluable, and an analytical mind is beneficial. You will need to be punctual and a fantastic time manager – particularly if you will manage someone’s schedule.
Intermediate roles
Come August, you will have left school and gotten your GCSE results. So, what’s next?
Well, you could follow the traditional route of college and then university. Alternatively, you could leave education and get a job.
If neither feels quite right, don’t worry, you could also apply for a UK apprenticeship.
Part-funded by the UK Government, UK apprenticeships are programmes of learning alongside hands-on paid work. You are employed by a company and earn a living wage. At the same time, you study for an industry-recognised qualification.
Apprenticeships are designed to upskill and diversify the British workforce by making it easier for different types of people to go into jobs previously inaccessible to them.
There are four levels of UK apprenticeships.
You might expect the lowest level of UK apprenticeship to be Level 1. Surprisingly, it’s Level 2. You may also see these programmes referred to as entry-level or intermediate apprenticeships.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible to apply for a UK apprenticeship, you must:
- Be 16 or older
- Not be in full-time education
- Have the right to live and work in the UK
Each apprenticeship has an approved industry standard, but individual providers may also have set criteria.
To apply for a Level 2 apprenticeship in politics, you will usually need five good GCSE grades. These should include core subjects, English Language, and Maths. A GCSE in politics, humanities or sociology would be beneficial.
In some cases, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic will matter more than your grades. You may be able to complete any outstanding GCSEs as part of your apprenticeship if required.
You will need to be confident, with excellent research skills and an analytical mind. An interest in politics is essential, and you must be comfortable talking to people from all walks of life. You should be highly motivated, disciplined and reliable.
Qualifications gained
Upon completing a Level 2 apprenticeship, you will be awarded an industry-recognised qualification equivalent to five good GCSE passes, 4/C or above.
Level 2 politics-related apprenticeships include:
- Apprenticeships in Local Government – Local Government Association
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Advanced/Higher/Degree targeted at A-Level
Completing an entry-level apprenticeship may mean you get a pay rise. You can also use it as UCAS points to get into university. Alternatively, you can follow up your Level 2 apprenticeship with a higher level.
Other UK apprenticeships are divided as such:
- Level 3 – advanced apprenticeships
- Levels 4 and 5 – higher apprenticeships
- Levels 6 and 7 – degree-level apprenticeships
Once you reach Level 3 and higher apprenticeships, they typically take longer to complete and are more complicated or specialist. In return, you gain a higher qualification.
Entry Requirements
To apply for an advanced politics apprenticeship, you will typically need good grades (4/C or above) GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English Language plus at least two other relevant GCSEs, such as politics, social sciences or history.
Higher and degree philosophy apprenticeships typically require A levels in the same subjects plus politics or humanities.
Qualifications gained
For each apprenticeship level you complete, you will earn the For every apprenticeship you complete above Level 2, you will receive the equivalent of the following qualifications:
- 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 politics-related apprenticeships include:
- Policy Officer (Level 4) – Various providers
- Intelligence Analyst (Level 4)– Various providers
Industry Focus
A politics apprenticeship is your chance to step into the heart of decision-making and learn how the country runs. Whether you’re interested in becoming a politician, supporting one as an aide, or diving into research and analysis, there are plenty of opportunities to make an impact. You could help shape policy, work behind the scenes to support key decisions, or even represent your community as an elected official.
From apprenticeships in Parliament to roles in the Civil Service or think tanks, you’ll develop real-world skills and gain experience in areas like administration, communication, and data analysis. If you’re passionate about making a difference, a politics apprenticeship is a fantastic way to get started.
Politicians are the faces of Governments, be they local or national. They are often big characters who stand out from a crowd, but they can also be quietly persuasive. Politicians must be voted in, so likeability/popularity is important. Day to day, their job is to run the country/town or city where they have been elected. They typically have an area of interest, such as transport or education.
Types of politicians in the UK include:
- Local councillor
- Elected mayor
- MP
- Prime Minister
At all levels, you will represent your constituents, listening to their needs and trying to convey them.
Political aides ensure politicians are spending their time as wisely as possible. They offer administrative support – managing schedules and calendars. They arrange meetings and schedule events. They may also write press releases and/or speeches and help with marketing campaigns.
You can find apprenticeships in the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Political campaigns and decisions are based on intelligence gathered by political researchers and analysts.
Looking at reports and statistics, you will help make sense of issues such as human rights violations, crime levels, government stability, crime levels, economic conditions and the threat of conflict. You will learn to use modelling tools and systems to calculate risk and analyse data.
The information you provide will help influence policy and strategy. You could work in-house, as part of a think tank, or as a freelance consultant.
You can find risk analysis apprenticeships at local organisations, such as the 2025 Security Risk and Governance Digital Analyst Apprentice – Level 4 Business Analyst Apprenticeship in Crawley.
The Civil service supports whichever political party is in power. It is politically impartial, concerned only with upholding a set of values and standards for the people of the country.
They help keep government departments running by researching and completing administrative tasks such as analysing statistics or reading reports.
Most civil servants work in government departments in offices or remotely. Due to the confidential nature of the information they see, they are subject to the Official Secrets Acts, 1911 to 1989. They also cannot stand for election.
The UK Civil Service offers apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 7 in various specialisms, from Counter Fraud to Operational Delivery.
Other Opportunities
- Political journalist
- Academic researcher
- Forensic accountant
- Marketing executive
- Business development manager
- Public relations officer
- HR officer
- Trade union researcher
- Public affairs consultant
- Market researcher
- Diplomatic service officer
- Charity officer
- Lawyer
Conclusion
We hope you have found this short guide to political apprenticeships and potential careers useful.
If you still have questions, please feel free to get in touch.
In the meantime, find politics-related apprenticeships in your area using the topic and location filters on our website.
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