Apprenticeships are a great way to get into the world of work

Business administrators have a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors. This includes small and large businesses alike; from the public sector, private sector and charitable sector. The role may involve working independently or as part of a team and will involve developing, implementing, maintaining and improving administrative services. Business administrators develop key skills and behaviours to support their own progression towards management responsibilities.

The broad purpose of the occupation is working with wood-based materials and associated products to create and install building components. This typically involves shaping and cutting materials, installing finished materials like partitions, doors, staircases, window frames, mouldings, timber floor coverings and erecting structural components such as floor joists and roofs. All work needs to be carried out safely, using the appropriate tools and to the quality specified.

A Site Carpenter will prepare and install basic building components e.g. doors, straight staircases, wall and floor units and erecting structural carpentry and roof structures on a building site or in domestic and commercial premises.

This occupation is in the healthcare field, specifically dentistry. Dental nurses work in clinical settings such as NHS or private practices, hospitals, specialist clinics, community services, or military dental clinics. Their main role is to provide chairside support to dental professionals, ensuring high standards of cleanliness and infection control. Responsibilities include preparing instruments, materials, and medications, sterilising equipment, keeping records, managing stock, and ensuring patient comfort throughout their visit.

This occupation is found in a range of maintained and private, voluntary, and independent settings such as full day care, children's centres, pre-schools, reception classes, playgroups, nursery schools, home based provision, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments, and local authority provision.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide high quality early education and care to children. Through an evidence-based approach, they provide opportunities and learning experiences for all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Early years educators follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by government for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 in both indoor and outdoor environments.

This occupation encompasses various private and public settings, such as day care, children’s centres, and hospitals, focusing on delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements for children from birth to five years. The role involves directly engaging with children to support planning and delivering activities, purposeful play, and educational programmes. An Early Years Practitioner (EYP) works as part of a professional team, ensuring children's welfare and care under the supervision of an Early Years Educator or qualified professional.

Engineering Manufacturing Technicians work in various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, chemical processing, and marine, providing specialist technical support to engineers to develop, produce, or test products, processes, and procedures efficiently. They gather and analyse data, solve problems, and update technical documentation related to quality, reliability, production, and costing. These technicians collaborate with managers, production teams, and external stakeholders like customers and regulatory bodies, ensuring products meet quality, safety, and delivery standards. They split their time between office and manufacturing environments, have autonomy in decision-making, and contribute to continuous improvements in business processes and methods.

A Heavy Vehicle (HV) technician services, inspects, and repairs HVs, classified by the Department of Transport as category N2 or N3, along with associated trailers and ancillaries. They work in dealerships focusing on specific manufacturers or in independent garages, franchises, or large fleet operators dealing with various vehicle makes.

Technicians handle all vehicle systems, performing tasks from simple part replacements to diagnosing complex faults using advanced diagnostic methods. The role requires strong technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a solid understanding of vehicle systems. They must work independently and as effective team members, understand commercial operations, and demonstrate good customer handling skills while seeking ways to work more efficiently.

This occupation is found in organisations, large and small, in all sectors, and within public, private and voluntary organisations. Organisations increasingly rely on computer and communications systems in all areas of their operations and decision-making processes. It is therefore crucial to ensure the optimal performance and maintenance of systems. An Information Communication Technician (ICT) is critical to achieving this.

The broad purpose of the ICT occupation is to deliver efficient operation and control of the IT and/or Telecommunications infrastructure (comprising physical or virtual hardware, software, network services and data storage) either on-premises or to end-users provisioned as cloud services that is required to deliver and support the information systems needs of an organisation.

The primary role of an Electrician is to install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings. Their work involves applying engineering knowledge and practical skills to the design, construction, and maintenance of electrical equipment, including switchboards, motors, and safety installations. Electricians also focus on renewable energy technologies and emerging systems that support low carbon targets, utilising modern construction methods, such as offsite and prefabricated components.

This occupation is found in a wide range of organisations, including but not exclusively, chemical, primary and secondary pharmaceutical, biotechnology, formulated products, nuclear companies; and analytical science services, dental laboratories and educational establishments.

The broad purpose of the occupation is working at the forefront of technology to carry out both routine and one-off laboratory testing (and manufacturing where relevant) and perform a variety of technical support functions across the organisation.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the laboratory manager and colleagues, internal departments such as manufacturing, procurement and quality, internal customers such as medical staff, teaching staff and students, external suppliers and customers such as service engineers, delivery drivers, regulatory bodies and inspection teams e.g. HSE.

Lead maintenance engineering technicians typically perform a multi-disciplinary role, managing or leading other technicians. They may specialise in areas such as mechanical, electronic, or electrical engineering. Employers range from small to large businesses that provide or require maintenance support, including major asset owners, operators, supply chain entities, contractors, and sub-contractors. Typical workplaces encompass both private and public sector manufacturing factories. The course covers the fundamental engineering concepts and skills required of a higher technician while also providing a solid foundation for further study at degree level. Emphasis is placed on problem-solving skills, and students should expect the delivery to reflect this, along with associated mathematical concepts.

This occupation is prevalent across all areas of the Further Education and Skills Sector (FES), primarily in settings for students aged 16 and above, though some teachers may work with 14- to 16-year-olds in alternative provisions. Most Further Education, Learning and Skills Teachers are employed in FE colleges (both general and specialist), independent training providers (ITPs), Adult Community Learning (ACL) providers, or offender learning settings, with a few serving as trainers in large organisations. Teaching encompasses a range of levels, typically up to Level 3, including academic, vocational, and technical education, with some teachers delivering subjects up to postgraduate level across various sectors. Many Learning and Skills Teachers are dual professionals, leveraging their technical, vocational, and academic expertise to enhance the learning experience. The broad purpose of this role is to ensure students acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviours necessary for success. Learning and Skills Teachers achieve this by planning and delivering relevant, comprehensive, and challenging lessons that inspire student engagement and foster progression.

This occupation is part of the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) sector, which includes Aerospace, Automotive, Maritime Defence, Nuclear, and Construction industries. Machining Technicians produce complex, precision-machined products for machinery, such as aeroplanes and vehicles, as well as bespoke components for domestic appliances and medical equipment. They operate various machines, including centre lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, and CNC machine tools.

The main purpose of this role is to machine components from metals or specialist materials using both conventional and CNC tools. Technicians plan their activities, set up and adjust machine settings, and create and validate CNC programs. They also inspect components, report issues, and support continuous improvement, typically in a manufacturing environment.

This role is found across industries such as aerospace, automotive, defence, logistics, pharmaceuticals, energy, and advanced manufacturing, where automated systems blend mechanical, electrical, electronic, and fluid power technologies.

The primary goal is to maintain equipment and ensure optimal performance to meet safety, quality, and cost targets. Multi-skilled mechatronics maintenance technicians handle tasks such as installation, testing, fault diagnosis, and planned maintenance of complex automated machinery. They operate across multiple disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, and control systems, while following safety standards. Technicians also document and communicate their work and may work shifts, at height, in confined spaces, or with hazardous equipment.

Motor vehicle service and maintenance technicians repair and service light vehicles like cars and vans in dealerships or independent garages. Employing over half a million people, the automotive retail industry is vital to the UK economy. Technicians work independently and as part of a team, with roles varying from simple repairs to complex diagnostics. In larger dealerships, they collaborate with other departments, while in smaller garages, they may handle multiple functions. They must also ensure environmentally responsible waste disposal and consider sustainability in their work.

Oral Health Practitioners operate with a high degree of autonomy, performing a variety of preventive oral health procedures, such as applying fluoride varnish, taking impressions, and conducting tooth brushing with patients. This role fits within the dental career structure above a dental nurse but below a dental hygienist or dentist, complementing the work of other dental professionals.

In addition to their clinical responsibilities, Oral Health Practitioners provide oral health education and preventive interventions to various community groups, including schools, care homes, and ante-natal groups. They are also involved in general health screenings, assessing conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure alongside oral health assessments to offer holistic care.

This Apprenticeship is found in the building services sector of the construction industry.

Plumbing & domestic heating technicians’ size and select, plan and install, service, maintain and commission plumbing and domestic heating systems.

All technicians will be required to work on typical plumbing elements such as hot and cold-water systems and storage, supplies to dwellings and associated pipework, above-ground pipework, connection to below-ground, sanitary pipework, fittings and furniture. Appliances and equipment can include central heating boilers, bathroom furniture, sanitary appliances, drainage and rainwater systems.

This occupation operates within the construction and built environment sector, maintaining properties across diverse industries such as housing, healthcare, education, and retail. The role of a property maintenance operative is to perform routine maintenance and minor repairs, ensuring properties remain in good working order. Using a variety of trade skills, including carpentry, plumbing, plastering, and decorating, these operatives handle day-to-day tasks as well as planned and responsive repair work to optimise the quality and performance of different types of properties.