When it comes to apprenticeships, Gloucestershire has some exceptional training providers that offer a wide range of courses at all levels – with SoGlos sharing 26 apprenticeship courses and opportunities available right now.
As part of this year’s SoGlos Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Campaign, we highlight just some of the apprenticeship courses on offer across the county from the major training providers.
The campaign is made possible by our partners Gloucestershire College, Gloucestershire Engineering Training, SGS College and engineering giant Renishaw, which still has a host of apprenticeships on offer until Sunday 12 February 2023.
Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET) has a 46-year history of training apprentices for the very best engineering firms in the county – from the smallest to giants like Renishaw, Ontic, Borg Warner, Safran, Spirax Sarco and Kohler Mira.
Its staff have industry experience and work closely with companies to ensure training fits the needs of industry today, with a focus on the independent learning needs of the apprentice, employer future needs, and covers all age ranges.
GET has 128 Level 3 apprentices, around 35-40 Level 4 apprentices, and approximately 50 to 60 HE learners starting in September 2023.
This Level 3 qualification has three modules developed by the BCS (the Chartered Institute of IT) which are delivered as part of the digital marketer apprenticeship and include principles of coding, marketing principles and digital marketing business principles.
Usually spread over two years, learners can expect detailed theory sessions either in the classroom or online, as well as on-site assessment, skills development and to gain British Computer Society membership on completion.
Apprentices on this degree-level course learn on industry 4.0 manufacturing systems and gain a BEng upon successful completion. It has been designed to prepare learners for the dynamic manufacturing engineering environment and provides the core engineering and management skills for learners to apply directly in their workplace.
The course runs over three semesters throughout the year and learners are required to attend university one day per week through semesters one and two. During semester three, block delivery will take place over one or two five-day periods. The rest of the time learners are in the workplace. The university also runs the control/technical support engineer apprenticeship BEng (Hons).
All of these individual apprenticeships listed in the title of this section are Level 2 and available through SGS College, with each course benefitting teaching from construction industry experts, with outstanding workshops and facilities and classroom and study programmes.
Upon completion of the courses, apprentices will be what SGS calls ‘fully site qualified’, having acquired the necessary skills to break into for their chosen profession. As with all the apprenticeships listed here, more information is available on the provider’s website.
An infrastructure technician provides support to internal and external customers, helping them to be productive when using technology to do their own jobs, by using tools to problem solve and trouble shoot non-routine problems.
Technicians set people up on systems and provide support when they need it and help maintain an organisations productivity. On completion of this 18-month Level 3 apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply to be included on the the register of IT technicians confirming SFIA Level 3 professional competence.
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In 2021, Cirencester College became the first and only training provider in the UK to offer the Level 3 archaeological technician apprenticeship and are now on their third cohort of apprentices.
Designed by employers, this apprenticeship provides the highest level of training to enable apprentices to work on excavations and post excavation analysis, all whilst gaining a thorough understanding of key periods in British Archaeology. This qualification would take between 12 and 18 months to complete.
Suitable for business administrators working independently or as part of a team, this apprenticeship is all about honing your skills at being able to develop, implement, maintain and improving administrative services.
You will need GCSEs in English and maths between grade 9 and 4, or A* to C to get onto this Level 3 course, with the course taking 21 months to complete, plus three months for the end-point assessment.
The Registered Nurse Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) at the University of Gloucestershire is one of a whole host of healthcare related higher and degree-level apprenticeships including Operating Department Practitioner Apprenticeship BSc (Hons), Nursing Associate Apprenticeship FdSc, Healthcare Science Practitioner Apprenticeship (Vascular Science) BSc (Hons), Healthcare Science Practitioner Apprenticeship (Clinical Photography) BSc (Hons) and Diagnostic Radiographer Apprenticeship BSc (Hons).
This degree apprenticeship combines clinical practice with academic excellence, to create graduate nurses for the future. Throughout this programme, degree apprentices are required to apply their learning in the workplace, meaning they have an immediate impact on the delivery of care for patients.
SGS College says the primary role of a software developer is to build and test simple, high-quality code across front end, logic and database layers.
A developer will typically be working as part of a larger team, responsibility for some of the straightforward elements of the overall project, and be expected to be able to interpret design documentation and specifications. Expect this Level 4 apprenticeship to take 24 months.
The HR support Level 3 apprenticeship is suitable for HR professionals working in a medium to large organisation within a human resources department, delivering front line support to managers and employees, or a HR manager working in a smaller organisation.
The Level 5 is suitable for HR professionals working at partner or consultant level. It’s 15 months for the Level 3, 18 for the Level 5 and you’ll need at least GCSEs in English and maths grades 9 to 4 or A* to C to qualify for either courses.
The University of Gloucestershire’s cyber security technical professional apprenticeship is an exciting programme designed to give learners the key knowledge, understanding, skills and experience sought by employers.
Cyber security technical professionals operate in business or technology/engineering functions across a range of sectors, often leading teams that research, analyse, model, assess and manage cyber security risks. They also design, develop, justify, manage and operate secure solutions, and detect and respond to incidents.
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SGS College describes an accounts and finance assistant as an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business, responsible for assisting accountants with junior accounting duties.
An assistant’s work could include anything from basic bookkeeping activities, working with sales and purchase ledgers to running calculations to ensure that records and payments are correct, recording of cash and data entry. Expect this Level 2 apprenticeship to typically take 15 months to complete.
Apprenticeships that fit under the banner of media, broadcast and production apprenticeships at Cirencester College include junior content producer, photographic assistant: photographic technician, photographic assistant: assistant photographer and broadcast production assistant (all Level 3), and media production co-ordinator (Level 4).
Apprenticeships like this are expected to take between 12 and 18 months to complete, with more information on the college’s website – also outlining potential salaries, careers options and even live jobs in the region for which you might fit the bill once qualified.
This Level 3 apprenticeship requires learners to achieve maths and English at Level 2 and takes 18 to 24 months to complete, with a focus in the first year on training and delivery of the diploma and an assessor supporting the apprentice in preparation for the end point assessment in year two.
SGS College delivers the apprenticeship as a City & Guilds Level 3 diploma in specialist support for teaching and learning in schools – a nationally recognised qualification.
This apprenticeship is described as ‘an excellent route’ to train as a dental nurse and to achieve the qualified standard required by the General Dental Council (GDC). Dental nurses provide support to dentists, dental therapists, hygienists and technicians.
You will need GCSEs in English and maths grade 9 to 4 or A* to C. The course will take 18 months plus three months end-point assessment.
HR consultants will use their expertise to provide and lead the delivery of HR solutions to business challenges, together with tailored advice to the business in a number of HR areas, typically to mid-level and senior managers.
SGS delivers this CIPD Level 5 Diploma (equivalent to a foundation degree and above) in human resource management as eight units over 36 months. It is a requirement for all apprentices to attend one session per week at the college.
This apprenticeship is for those providing first line cyber security support. Technicians monitor and detect potential security threats and escalate as necessary, and support secure and uninterrupted business operations of an organisation through the implementation of cyber security mechanisms and the application of cyber security procedures and controls.
You will need GCSEs in English and maths grade 9 to 4 or A* to C. The course will take 12 months plus three months end-point assessment.
On completion of this Level 2 apprenticeship, you will have knowledge of the principles of slating and tiling and how they are applied in routine tasks.
Those tasks include setting out roofs, installing insulation, underlay and other background materials, installing main roof coverings, fixings, fittings and components, ventilation and dry fix systems, roof windows, mixing and applying mortar and installing pre-formed lead and/or proprietary flashings. Individual employers are likely to expect apprentices to have achieved maths and English at Grade 3, (D) or above.
Plumbing and domestic heating technicians on this apprenticeship will learn about natural gas and renewable energies; as well as the installation of plumbing and heating systems; appliances and equipment from gas, oil and solid fuel boilers; pumps and heat emitters to bathroom furniture or controls as part of a cold water, hot water and central heating; or above ground drainage and rainwater systems.
By the end of this Level 3 apprenticeship, the candidate will have satisfied the requirements for registration by the Engineering Council through The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and or The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). The college also runs a Level 3 gas engineering apprenticeship.
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Groundworkers are the first trade onto a construction and civil engineering site and they work closely with supervisors and engineers in interpreting design specifications to prepare the site ready for the structural building works to take place.
You will need GCSEs in English and maths, grade 9 to 3 or A* to D for this Level 2 apprenticeships. Those who complete it may wish to progress to the Level 3 Surveying Technician Apprenticeship.
Apprentices on this course will develop practical skills in areas including technology and learn how to operate independently and as part of a team. You will specialise in crop or livestock production, supporting daily operations within the farm and working on issues relating to animal or plant health.
Alongside your agricultural skills, you’ll complete a Level 1 English and Maths, Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work, Safe Use of Pesticides PA1&6 and a practical evidence portfolio. Expect the course to take 12 to 24 months. Level 2 General Farmworker Apprenticeship requires three GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English or mathematics.
This apprenticeship is aimed at a salon junior, assisting senior staff while training as a junior stylist. The programme will cover a wide range of hairdressing techniques which will be assessed throughout the programme, leading to achieving the Diploma in Hairdressing before going through the end point assessment.
You will need GCSEs in English and maths grade 9 to 3 or A* to D. The course will take 24 months plus two-months end-point assessment.
This apprenticeship is described as a great route to build the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to begin a career in software development. You will gain an appreciation of the concepts, approaches and techniques of software programming, and learn how to apply them across businesses.
This apprenticeship is recognised for entry onto the register of IT technicians (RITTech) upon confirming an appropriate SFIA Level 3 professional competence. You can progress to software developer Level 4 or software tester Level 4. You’ll need GCSEs in English and maths grade 9 to 4 or A* to C. The course will take 18 months.
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Designed for any individual moving into a senior or strategic management role, this programme challenges learners to draw on their own business experiences which are then underpinned with academic knowledge and high-level skills.
Once their apprenticeship is completed, learners undertake an additional project in order to achieve an MBA. This project takes around six months to complete and is carried out remotely, with no additional cost to the employer. Teaching is delivered over two years and learners normally attend university on set days.
Apprentices on this A-level-equivalent qualification will develop their skills over 24 months, preparing and cultivating sites for planting crops, harvesting and storing crops, and maintaining equipment and machines.
You’ll develop your understanding of sustainable crop production, as well as important transferable skills including communication and management skills. Alongside your agricultural skills, you’ll complete a Level 1 English and Maths, Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work, Safe Use of Pesticides PA1&6 and a practical evidence portfolio.
Students must be at least 16, in suitable employment and have two GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English Language or Mathematics.
Apprenticeships in this area currently include Level 3 courses in information communications technician, IT solutions technician: software, IT solutions technician: hardware, digital support technician: digital services, digital support technician: digital applications and at Level 4, development operations engineer.
According to the college the average salary for a qualified Information Communications Technician is £28,550, and for an IT Network Professional £39,000. Apprenticeships typically take between 18-24 months to complete.
Helping more than 700 apprentices in Gloucestershire qualify each year in sectors ranging from catering to computing, Gloucestershire College cultivates strong relationships with businesses of all sizes to understand what they need and to support students through to a successful career. gloscol.ac.uk
Founded in 1977 by a partnership of county businesses, Gloucestershire Engineering Training provides apprenticeship training for the county’s best and most innovative engineering firms and continues to support apprenticeships as a route to work and career development. get-trained.org
Globally successful engineering firm Renishaw was founded in 1973 by two former engineering apprentices and works across a wide variety of sectors, including aerospace, automotive and healthcare. Renishaw continues to show dedication to apprenticeships at all levels, too. renishaw.com
SGS College has forged strong links with businesses and helps train hundreds of students annually at Level 2, 3, 4 and higher, in everything from accounting and finance; business administration; carpentry; joinery; education and childcare; gas engineering and electrical installation; construction; teaching; HR; to customer services and more. sgscol.ac.uk
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