Collage of apprentices in their workplaces including a hairdresser at a sink, an apprentice using a computer and an apprentice standing near large plant machinery

Apprenticeships

Jobs with pay, prospects and training

Apprenticeships logo

Apprenticeships at City College

Find out everything you need to know about apprenticeships, either for yourself or your business.

If you have any questions, please get in touch and our apprenticeship team will gladly answer your queries.

Tel: 023 8048 4848 
Email: apprenticeships@southampton-city.ac.uk 
Employer enquiries: employers@southampton-city.ac.uk

For more information about the apprenticeship programmes we offer, click on the links below.

 

Want to be an apprentice?

 

Apprenticeships are a great way to start your working life. They are real jobs where you learn, gain hands-on experience, get training for a specific job role, and get paid. Those building their careers through the apprenticeship route are more likely to stay in work throughout their life.

Apprenticeships aren't only for school and college leavers! Adults are also able to undertake an apprenticeship programme with the support of their employer or if they are looking for a career change.

Your apprenticeship training programme, which can take between 1 and 4 years to complete, will include:

» Technical/professional qualification

» Functional skills in English, maths and ICT

» Key transferable skills

 

To be an apprentice you have to find an employer willing to give you a job. You will need a CV, covering letter and you’ll need to actively search and apply for vacancies, in the same way as you would apply for a job.  

We advise that you keep checking our apprenticeship vacancy page. This page is regularly updated.

You should also register with the Government's Find an Apprenticeship website.

We also have an Apprenticeship Recruitment Co-ordinator who is able to support you through this process. For assistance please email apprenticeships@southampton-city.ac.uk.

 

If you're still at school and hoping to get an apprenticeship when you finish do get in touch with us.

We strongly advise that you apply for a full-time study programme at college in your chosen field as this will give you a secure back-up plan and will likely lead to an apprenticeship at a future date.

Most employers require candidates to have relevant technical skills and work experience before starting to work as an apprentice; so a year or two working towards a highly-regarded vocational qualification at college is the best way to get this.

As a City College full-time study programme student, we will fully support you to become apprentice ready, which will help you to stand out against the competition and increase your chances of being selected for the role by the employer.

 
Apprenticeship Vacancies

To view and apply for our current apprenticeship vacancies, click on the button below.

View current vacancies

If you require any assistance, please contact our Apprenticeship Recruitment Co-ordinator who will be happy to support you through this process. Email apprenticeships@southampton-city.ac.uk.

 

An apprentice wearing a hard hat and overalls stands in front of large plant machinery 

"I chose to do an apprenticeship as I wanted to start my career by gaining experience as well as technical knowledge. I enjoy the challenges that this job provides me with and how I’ve learned to overcome any difficulties that I come across.
I secured my apprenticeship while studying at City College thanks to the help and support of my tutor."

- Sebastian Ziecik, Engineering Apprentice at S. Norton

 

An apprentice works on a computer in an office

"My apprenticeship with Trant Engineering has been fantastic as I am gaining a qualification alongside hands‑on experience in a working environment. I have learnt so much in such a short space of time."

- Abby 
Bentley, Business Administration Apprentice at Trant Engineering LTD

If you have any questions, please get in touch and our apprenticeship team will gladly answer your queries. 

Tel: 023 8048 4848

Email: apprenticeships@southampton-city.ac.uk 

 

 

 

Apprenticeships for your business

 

Apprenticeships are a productive and effective way for any business or organisation to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.

There are a number of benefits to your business from employing an apprentice. Apprenticeships are a great cost-effective way to train both new and existing employees who are moving into a new or changed job role.

Apprenticeships are training programmes for employees designed around the needs of employers, which can lead to nationally recognised qualifications. An apprenticeship takes between 1 to 4 years to complete and consists of a mixture of work, on-the-job training, off-the-job training and time at college.

Benefits include:

  • Develop a qualified and experienced member of staff
  • Your employees will be trained to high occupational standards
  • Enthusiastic and motivated workforce for the future
  • Increased productivity through trained staff with the right skills for the job
  • Great career progression for your workforce
  • Increased skills will help strengthen your competitiveness within your industry
  • Fantastic for your company's corporate social responsibility (CSR)
  • Reduced training and recruitment costs
 

As a well-established provider of apprenticeships in the region, with a highly experienced and dedicated team, we can help you recruit apprentices that meet your business needs or help develop someone in your existing workforce.

We have a pool of talented and motivated 'apprentice ready' students at the College and we can help match suitable candidates to your requirements. We also offer a FREE recruitment service (see next section).

Once the apprentice starts, we continue our support and guidance for both you and the apprentice through our dedicated apprenticeship team.

  • We guide you through FUNDING & GRANTS available
  • We help you FIND & MATCH apprentices that meet your needs
  • Our dedicated team will SUPPORT you and your apprentice throughout the apprenticeship
  • We offer a range of Apprenticeship STANDARDS
  • Our tutors are QUALIFIED INDUSTRY EXPERTS
  • Receive REGULAR UPDATES on your apprentice’s progress
  • Approved by the EDUCATION AND SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY

All of our apprenticeship programmes are the new Government ‘Standards’ with End Point Assessments.

We offer industry trained tutors with the latest classroom and workshop facilities to provide a high-quality learning environment. Alongside this apprentices will benefit from industry trained assessors who offer regular reviews and guidance.

Employer responsibilities

City College will work closely with you to ensure that the apprenticeship offered is the most appropriate for the individual’s job role, whilst reflecting individual employer and employee needs. It is vital that the apprentice is employed by the company.

Most of the apprentice training is on-the-job, working with a mentor to learn job-specific skills in the workplace. Off-the-job training will depend on the occupational area, the training organisation and the requirements and wishes of the employer.

This training may be delivered in the workplace, through ‘day release’ or at premises away from the working environment. On completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice must perform tasks confidently and completely to the standard set by each industry.

 

City College offers a highly-valuable and effective apprentice recruitment service free of charge, which saves employers a lot of time and money.

We will work with you to understand your job roles and specifications, the vacancies are then handled by our experienced and dedicated recruitment team. All applicants complete a Maths and English assessment and a formal interview with City College.

The recruitment process:

Introductory meeting

We arrange a meeting with you to discuss your apprenticeship training needs. Potential apprenticeship roles are discussed to ensure the apprenticeship programme chosen is suitable for your organisation.

Recruiting your apprentice

We can market your apprenticeship vacancy internally to our work-ready students and externally using our website and other advertising channels. Applicants are shortlisted and an initial interview conducted. Successful candidates are then sent to you for consideration for interview.

Sign up an apprentice

We take you and your apprentice through the programme discussing the duration and expectations of the apprenticeship standards. We will explain the monitoring process of the apprenticeship and attendance required. Our health and safety officer will visit your organisation to conduct a health and safety assessment.

Starting your apprentice

We provide your apprentice with an induction on their first day at the college. We create an individual learning plan for you and your apprentice. We provide ongoing support for you and your apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.

 

There has never been a better time to employ an apprentice or to develop the skills of existing employees through an apprenticeship.

For more information about the apprenticeship levy:

Apprenticeship Levy Leaflet (pdf)

To find out more, contact our team at employers@southampton-city.ac.uk

 

 

Megan Mechanical Services logo

"Our apprentices benefit from working on a range of large-scale building services projects alongside our senior craftsman who has been with the business for 40 years. We are keen to encourage, inspire and train the next generation of tradesmen, engineers and project managers. We firmly believe that apprenticeships are key to addressing the skills gap and that they provide an invaluable level of training."

Megan Mechanical Services


Trant logo


"We have found that apprenticeships have not only brought younger people into our business but have created a productive and effective way for our organisation to grow talent and develop. This has resulted in us having a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. We also use apprenticeships to upskill our current staff members including those in senior management."

Trant Engineering Ltd

If you have any questions, please get in touch and our apprenticeship team will gladly answer your queries. 

Tel: 023 8048 4848

Email: employers@southampton-city.ac.uk