insights Why an apprenticeship is great for school leavers

Develop your skillset

Apprenticeships are a useful opportunity to develop top skills for success that you can use throughout your entire career. If you’re considering an apprenticeship after you’ve finished school, you’ll learn foundation work skills, such as problem-solving, time management and communication in a professional environment.

Likewise, if you have already established your chosen career, an apprenticeship is a great option to develop further skills to enhance your CV. 

Higher apprenticeships, from Levels 4 to 7, are equivalent to a foundation degree and above, and in the UK for example, degree apprenticeships at levels 6 and 7 are equivalent to a full Bachelors and Masters. 

There is no age limit to being an apprentice, so it’s a great option if you want to continue gaining valuable skills in your professional career. Tasmin, for example, is a Level 4 Higher Apprentice Project Manager, and she’s been able to develop new skills but crucially, build confidence in her own abilities.

Earn whilst you learn

University isn’t right for everyone, so why not consider earning whilst you’re learning to maximise your opportunities? Apprenticeships combine practical work experience with theoretical knowledge, so you’d be getting the best of both worlds.

Nearly half of the UK population agree, an apprenticeship is a great way for school leavers to prepare for the future. Learn skills on the job like Tash, an Apprentice Consultant who chose an apprenticeship route. 

Plus, at Atkins you’ll also enjoy a host of benefits which we call ‘Total Reward’, from financial rewards and leisure discounts to flexible holidays and more.

Step into a new career

Apprenticeships help you develop the specific skills you need to prosper in your chosen career or pivot into a new career option as you learn new skills.

Raj, for example, is a Civil Engineering Apprentice at Atkins and found that his apprenticeship offers the flexibility to explore different interests, work with different teams, and learn new technical skills that broaden his horizons so he can work across different sectors. 

We offer a range of apprenticeships in both engineering and non-engineering disciplines across the UK, with programmes available in: 

• Cumbria
• London and South East
• Midlands
• North East
• Northern Ireland
• North West 
• Scotland
• Wales 
• South West
• Yorkshire and the Humber

Why Atkins?

In addition to a competitive salary, and our range of holistic benefits, we offer learning & development, which can be tailored to meet your evolving career and personal needs as you move forward with us.

Learn from a variety of experiences and training opportunities

You could work on inspiring projects such as the sustainable expansion of the UK’s busiest airport or work with the world's largest scientific partnership aiming to test the potential of fusion power as a safe, limitless and environmentally responsible energy source – certainly noteworthy cases for your CV!

Be your authentic self

We're committed to creating an inclusive work environment where you can thrive. Ours is a culture of care – where every colleague belongs, can be their authentic self, and reach their full potential. 

Make an impact

Being an apprentice at Atkins is not only about the exciting clients or our innovative global projects. It’s about how much we can make a difference in the world. Join us and you’ll be engineering a better future for our planet and its people.

You’ll be one of the thinkers behind some of the world’s largest and most complex projects – from water parks to airports, to energy and water supplies, ensuring they’re sustainable throughout.

Find an apprenticeship to suit you at Atkins

The world is constantly changing. If you want to be at the forefront of that change, creating solutions for some of the most complex challenges, you’ll want to be at a company that will stretch you and ensure your development is a priority. At Atkins, we’ll do just that. 

Be part of inspiring projects that can change the future and gain the skills, knowledge, and experience to develop a successful early career. Browse our available apprenticeships and join our Talent Community to be the first to hear when our opportunities open.