Apprentices FAQs

Our apprenticeship opportunities go live during November and typically close at the end of February. Please refer to individual adverts for closing dates. Our apprenticeships are incredibly popular, so apply early as some roles may close sooner than the advertised closing date.

In the meantime, you can join our Talent Community to receive emails with tips and advice and to be notified when applications re-open.

We only accept one application per year, so make sure you read the job descriptions available to ensure you’ve selected the right choice for you.

Apprentice opportunities are available UK wide. Take a closer look at the roles on the careers pages to see what’s available and where.

Our entry requirements vary depending on the level of Apprenticeship you’re applying for and the learning provider supporting us in that location. Please look at the relevant job description for more information, however these entry requirements can and do change throughout the cycle but we’ve provided what we have now from the provider.

If you don’t meet the required grades following offer, please contact your recruiter as soon as possible to discuss further.

For our apprentice roles you’ll typically need to be living in the UK for 3 consecutive years or more prior to starting the apprenticeship and must hold, and be able to evidence, the Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the apprenticeship. For more detailed information please refer to our International Student page.

If you're already on an apprenticeship, you may be able to transfer to AtkinsRéalis if you're studying the same apprenticeship standard with the same training provider that we'll be working with. 

If you'd like to explore this further, contact us at [email protected] with details of your current apprenticeship, including the course title, your training provider and which year of study you're in. We'll review the information and advise on the next steps. 

Unfortunately, we’re unable to accommodate transfers from full-time university degree courses to our apprenticeship programme. Our decision around this is based on several important factors.

Firstly, the structure and delivery of degree courses and apprenticeships can vary significantly between universities. This variation means that a seamless transfer is not always guaranteed, and it may be challenging to align the two educational paths effectively. Additionally, as an apprenticeship employer, we’re committed to ensuring that all our apprentices receive a comprehensive and cohesive training experience. Accepting candidates partway through their degree would require us to address any gaps in knowledge or experience which could impact the quality and consistency of the apprenticeship training.

By joining AtkinsRéalis as an Apprentice, the world truly can be your oyster. Not only will you gain valuable 'on the job' experience and work towards professional qualifications but you'll also earn a meaningful salary from day one. Our Apprenticeship Programme is the ideal framework to enable enthusiastic people to drive their own career development. You’ll be supported and motivated to undertake self-directed learning to develop the skills and knowledge you need to progress in your career and work towards a professional qualification. Our programme features events, core training modules, professional development mentoring and on-the-job experience.

The typical start date for Apprentices is early September. If you’re offered a role with us, your recruiter will discuss the start dates with you.

The length of your Apprenticeship can depend on the Level you’re studying towards. Typically, it’s 2-3 years for Advanced and Higher Level apprenticeships and 4-6 years for Degree apprenticeships.

Once you’ve completed your initial apprenticeship, you’ll have an internal discussion with your line manager to review your options. If you wish to continue your education, there are options to be considered for progressions on to a higher level such as a Degree apprenticeship as well as becoming professionally qualified through the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). This depends on achieving some key requirements during your study.

Our dedicated Learning and Development team will facilitate the enrolment process, but you’ll still need to complete the enrolment yourself. Typically, you’ll hear from the college/university by the end of June regarding enrolment details.

All Apprentices are permanently employed from day one with AtkinsRéalis.

The AtkinsRéalis Professional Apprenticeships scheme comprises Advanced Apprentices (Level 3), Higher Apprentices (Level 4‑5) and Degree Apprentices (Level 6). For each Level, we offer a competitive salary which is advertised on our careers pages and discussed with you during the recruitment process.

Your salary will be dependent on Level of your apprenticeship and location. The following are the Apprentice salary ranges by Level for our 2026 intake:

Level 3 £22,500 - £24,500

Level 4 £23,500 - £25,500

Level 5 £24,500 - £26,500

Level 6 £26,228 - £30,784 - dependent on location and team

As a Real Living Wage Employer, we are committed to offering the Real Living Wage as a minimum starting salary for our AtkinsRéalis Level 6 (Degree Level) Apprentices. This is in recognition of the value apprentices bring to our business, ensuring that whatever route you take to start or develop your career, you can expect a fair salary, with a clear and open pathway to progress.

Our apprenticeship recruitment process consists of five simple steps: 

1. Find the right opportunity 
   Explore our opportunities and choose the role that best aligns with your skills, interests and career ambitions. 
   
    
2. Apply online 
   Complete our application form and tell us more about yourself, your education and your interests. 
   
    
3. Take part in our immersive online assessment 
   This helps us understand your strengths, potential and approach to different situations. 
   
    
4. Attend a virtual interview 
   Meet members of the hiring team, tell us more about yourself and learn more about the role, team and life at AtkinsRéalis. 


5. Receive your interview outcome 
   We'll let you know the outcome of your interview and, if successful, discuss your offer and next steps. 
   

    

Each stage is designed to help us understand your skills and potential, while giving you the opportunity to learn more about AtkinsRéalis and whether the role is right for you.

We don’t accept or need CVs or cover letters for our apprentice roles as everything we need is captured through the online application process. We’ll ask you for all the relevant details needed to assess your application and to create a fair and consistent process.

We’re looking for you to have a clear interest in AtkinsRéalis and motivation for the role you’re applying to. Make sure you demonstrate this through any related projects or modules you might have studied at school and college.

As part of the AtkinsRéalis recruitment process, you'll be invited to complete our Online Immersive Assessment.  

This stage helps us understand how you approach different situations and provides insight into the skills and potential you'll bring to AtkinsRéalis.  

You’ll complete a range of interactive exercises, including cognitive tasks designed to explore your approach to problem-solving and how you process information. There are no video interview questions included in this assessment.  

To complete the assessment, you’ll need: 

A suitable device 
For the best experience, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer, as this provides the most reliable and user-friendly format. However, you can also access the assessment on a tablet or mobile device.  

Good internet connectivity 
Ensure you have a strong and stable internet connection throughout the assessment. 

Time and space to focus 
Set aside time in a comfortable environment where you can concentrate and complete the assessment without interruptions. 

The assessment typically takes around 45 minutes to complete. While there is no strict time limit, we recommend setting aside enough time to complete it in one sitting.  

 

Please contact [email protected] with a brief description of the issue and a screenshot if possible. We’ll be in touch as soon as we can to support you through the next steps. We’d always suggest you save your application as you work on it, and you’ll have the chance to edit it before you submit it.

We’re delighted to hear you’ve taken the first step on your journey with us and made your application. You’ll see live updates on your application by logging into your candidate area. You’ll also receive email updates, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Our Apprenticeship interviews typically take place between January and April.

Our interviews take place virtually via Microsoft Teams, so you can join from wherever you're most comfortable.  

This is your opportunity to tell us more about yourself, showcase your skills and strengths, and demonstrate why you're interested in the role. It's also a chance for you to learn more about AtkinsRéalis, our culture, and the team you could be joining. 

There will typically be two interviewers on the panel from the team, or teams, hiring for the role. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions, hear first-hand about their experiences, and get to know some of the people you could be working with if you're successful. 

For most roles, you'll receive a separate Microsoft Teams invitation to join a short business presentation before your interview. During the session, we'll tell you more about the role, our business, and what you can expect if you join us. 

You don't need to prepare anything for the presentation, but we'd encourage you to think about any questions you'd like to ask. We want the interview process to be a two-way conversation, helping you decide whether AtkinsRéalis is the right fit for you.

If you’re no longer able to attend, please contact us at [email protected] or contact your recruiter directly to let us know. Due to high volumes and the number of people involved in the process we’re unable to guarantee that we can re-schedule it for you.

We aim to update you either by phone or e-mail within two weeks of your interview. Your recruiter will give you more details of what timelines to expect.

Following the interview if you’re successful then you’ll receive a verbal offer. Your contract will take more time to arrive as we’ll need to confirm a few details for your apprenticeship with the college/university. You’ll receive your contract electronically and there’ll be regular tasks to complete. We’ll also invite you to register with our Early Careers TalentConnector pre-boarding portal so you can start networking with other apprentices to help you prepare for your first day and your apprenticeship journey with us.

We recognise that generative AI tools are becoming an increasingly valuable part of everyday life and work.

You're welcome to use these tools to help you prepare for your assessment and interview. For example, you may wish to use AI to research our organisation, practice interview questions, or explore career development topics. However, during the assessment and interview process itself, we ask that all responses be your own. We're interested in hearing your ideas, experiences and perspectives.

Understanding how you naturally think and approach situations helps us assess your potential far more effectively than polished or AI‑generated responses.

Integrity is one of our core values, and we ask all candidates to demonstrate this throughout the recruitment process.

Technology helps us manage applications efficiently, but it doesn't replace human decision-making. Technology may support elements of our recruitment process, however recruitment and hiring decisions are made by people. Our Early Careers recruitment team oversees candidate progression and shortlisting decisions, while hiring managers meet candidates during the interview stage and make the final hiring decision.

Yes, we’re proud to be a Disability Confident accredited employer, and we provide adjustments where needed as we want you to be the best you can be during the recruitment process. Please let us know as soon as possible regarding any adjustments you require so that we can put them in place at the right time to support you. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss in confidence. Learn more to learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

We want you to perform at your best at all stages of our recruitment process and can make adjustments to support this. Examples of adjustments we’ve made in the past include, but are not limited to, providing assistive technology; extra time; changing the format of an assessment; scheduling an interview at a specific time; and ensuring there is access. For further information and to discuss how we can support you, please contact [email protected]. Learn more to learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

If you've a specific question related to disability, please contact [email protected]. All conversations are confidential.

We know it can be difficult sometimes to talk about personal things but we’re here to support you during the recruitment process. Please let us know as soon as possible if you require any adjustments or changes to the interview process so we can put them in place at the right time. Contact us at [email protected]. Learn more to learn more about AtkinsRéalis as a disability confident employer.

Atkins, SNC-Lavalin and Faithful+Gould have united to become AtkinsRéalis. AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading design, engineering and project management organization. We create world-class sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology. We’re transforming the world’s infrastructure and energy systems, growing partnerships with our clients and bringing the most complex projects across the world to life. Our global team of 36,000+ employees speak over 70 languages and represent 130 nationalities across six continents.