After a useful National Apprenticeship Week last month, it feels like a good moment to keep the momentum going. Below is a snapshot of apprenticeships, courses, and free learning options worth a look this month.

As always, if you’d like to talk through the current apprenticeships and courses available in your area, reply here to book in a quick call and we can talk through options together.

In this issue:

You’ll be part of IBM’s Global Sales team, helping with client demos, supporting proposals and getting involved in real projects around AI, cloud and data. It’s practical, client-facing work where you’ll see how large businesses actually use technology. At the same time, you’ll be studying towards a Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions degree.

The starting salary (£27k+) is high for an apprenticeship, and IBM is a household name to have on your CV. There aren’t any assessments required and the package also includes private healthcare. Even if you miss this intake, IBM is worth following as they regularly recruit apprentices across different areas so click here and bookmark them.

You’ll spend 6 hours a week studying towards your Digital and Technology Solutions degree. The rest of your time will be working in either the Presales Innovation Labs or Customer Success Services team. In practical terms, that means supporting client communications, analysing data, preparing value-based demos and presentations, and working alongside senior solution consultants on live projects. You’ll be part of real account teams, building experience as you go.

The pay is competitive, especially given the entry requirements are relatively accessible if school didn’t quite go to plan. SAP is a huge global company, which means there’s genuine scope to stay on and build a longer-term career once the apprenticeship finishes. On top of that, you get practical perks like a free laptop, gym access and lunch on site, which adds up.

You’ll be part of Thames Water’s Strategy and Regulatory Affairs team, using data to support long-term planning and decision-making. That means collecting and analysing data, building reports, researching industry trends and helping assess risks and new opportunities. Alongside the role, you’ll complete a Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship.

Thames Water is a large, established company, which carries weight early in your career. This isn’t a short-term placement either, it’s a permanent role from the start. Most importantly, they’ve recently published a number of similar apprenticeships, so if this one isn’t quite right, there may be others. Click here and bookmark their apprenticeship page.

You’ll begin with a Level 4 Applied Data and AI Specialist apprenticeship with BPP, with the opportunity to progress onto a degree apprenticeship subject to business agreement. You’ll learn tools like SQL and Python while working with large datasets, building dashboards, spotting patterns and supporting data-driven decisions across the bank.

It’s a long-term placement, which offers a bit of stability in what’s still a fairly uncertain economy (although it won’t suit those who aren’t looking for that level of commitment). The pay is relatively strong for an apprenticeship and gives you a proper foot in the door in a well-paid fintech sector once you finish. The pension scheme is generous too which never hurts.

You’ll be working on the IT service desk, helping fix day-to-day tech issues for staff. That could mean sorting out network issues, setting up IT infrastructure, installing software, or dealing with support tickets from start to finish. It’s proper hands-on IT support, and you’ll complete a Level 3 Information Communications Technician qualification alongside the job.

This is a hands-on role, so it suits someone who prefers learning by doing rather than sitting in a classroom all week. Telent also has offices across the UK, so it’s worth clicking here and checking whether similar roles are available closer to you.

Working with data to support reporting, analysis and decision-making across the business, while learning core data and digital skills on the job.

This is a chance to work for a household-name employer (great on your CV) with competitive pay for a Level 3 role. The assessment process is also shorter and more straightforward than many similar data apprenticeships.

You don’t need a Computer Science degree to move into AI. This course is designed for graduates from other backgrounds who want to change direction. It’s only one academic year (9 months) and built to give you the technical basics needed to move into AI and data roles.

If you’re looking to retrain without committing to another three-year degree, this is a really decent option. AI roles tend to pay well, and there’s still strong demand for people with the right skills. There’s also the option of adding a placement year after the Master’s if you want some hands-on experience before moving fully into the job market.

£11,000. Fees can be covered by Student Finance and are repaid after you finish the course and start working.

If this course is of interest, get in touch and we can usually help secure an offer swiftly and easily.

The University of Michigan’s “Python for Everybody” Specialization on Coursera is one of the more well-known beginner coding programmes online. It’s designed for people starting from scratch and focuses on learning Python properly, not just watching surface-level explainer videos.

Link: Click here

I think it’s fair to say apprenticeships are competitive at the best of times, so don’t ignore this. The National Trust has just released a load of new opportunities, which means you’re seeing them before everyone and their dog submits an application.

I can’t recommend strongly enough getting yours in early and standing out before everyone cottons on.

They also put together the occasional application guide and run webinars explaining what they’re looking for, so there’s really no excuse not to bookmark their page and keep an eye on what’s going on.

If you’ve been thinking about applying somewhere well-known and established, this is a good moment to move.

Have a look here:
https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/where-you-could-work/apprenticeships/