How to find degree apprenticeships?

[Ichangedmynameonce]

My DS is in year 13 and interested in a degree apprenticeship, possibly building surveying, construction project management etc.

I'm new to this and his school are v university focused, so can anyone help us with where to find information on how to find them please?

Also, any other strategies like how to identify key companies he should be targeting etc would be amazing- I'm lost!

Thank you

He needs to find out the names of all the major contractors and surveyors and contact them directly. Be very proactive as I think they're quite limited in number.

https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/teaching-and-studying/degree-apprenticeships-guide-for-apprentices/find-a-degree-apprenticeship/ (start here)

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch.

https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/apprenticeships

As for which businesses it'll depend on where you are as to what companies have a presence. For example, Babcock are a major employer of degree apprentices but aren't nationwide.

He could look at huge companies like Morgan Sindall, KIER, Balfour Beatty, Willmott Dixon. I'd also look at the railways, infrastructure projects like solar farms / HS2 wind farms and so on.

Thank you both!

@Ichangedmynameonce
A quick google gives
https://barrattcareers.co.uk/higher-degree/quantity-surveying/

My son went to a couple of apprenticeship fairs which were really useful for talking to employers and getting hints on the application process

Thank you

@Ichangedmynameonce the previous posters have missed the obvious. Apprenticeships are advertised like any other job - via online jobs boards. Start with Indeed. Use the web version, not the app. Ignore its requests for profile information about past experience etc because that will narrow its search. Just use the search term "Apprenticeship" and set an appropriate radius from your home postcode. You could narrow it further with a term like "construction" but don't narrow it too much. You will start getting daily alerts for dozens of apprenticeships. You can change it to a weekly alert if it gets too much (they do send the same ones repeatedly).

I did exactly this for my son last year, who was interested in Civil Engineering. There were many apprenticeships for that and for building surveying. In the end he decided to go to uni instead.

You could also help your son set up a linkedin profile. If his settings say what he is looking for then, again, he will get daily alerts.

There are many apprenticeships out there. Make sure you know what the different levels mean. Getting in the door at a level 3 or 4 can sometimes lead to higher level apprenticeships and sometimes not, so that's worth checking up front. Good luck!

My husband is involved in running the Greewich University degree apprenticeship for Quantity Surveying- I’ll ask him for any advice.

I know someone who did an engineering apprenticeship at Network Rail, they put her through a degree PT several years after she completed her apprenticeship so I wouldn’t be put off just by an apprenticeship with a big company that doesn’t mention a degree.

Yes DGodD did an apprenticeship with a big construction company. When she was coming to end of that they offered her a Degree Apprenticeship.

Turner and Townsend

Network Rail

Also Wates Construction

BAM

Wates

Jeremy Benn Asdociates not sure if they do degree apprenticeships in their apprenticeships offerring.

Thank you everyone for these really helpful suggestions! Thank you @Mumofyellows for offering to speak with your husband

In my experience (DS is just starting his second year of a degree apprenticeship) they all appear in the gov.uk apprenticeship search fairly soon after being posted on individual sites. You can set alerts but I found it easier to sort results by latest posted and check regularly, level of apprenticeship etc.

From now onwards, a lot of the programs will open up for next year up until the New Year when it slows down a bit - Network Rail was Spring if I remember rightly.

You need to be on it, because with some jobs, they close applications if they get lots of them, whereas others have a set closing date. DS definitely missed out on applying for some because they closed pretty quickly. (Doesn’t matter as he got the one he really wanted)

Make sure you know what the steps are in the process, because you may be asked after you’ve submitted an application to record some interview questions and submit recordings. You usually have a time limit for doing this, usually 7 days.

Dont get disheartened if he gets rejected. Remember they are often up against older candidates. DS took a year out and got the role he wanted on his second attempt. His friend has just started doing the same role after his 3rd attempt. I’m sure not having the A levels is a disadvantage, tho employers might ask their school or college for grade predictions. DS got exactly the number of UCAS points needed for his role.

.

Get going…. These schemes can close pretty early and are very competitive.