Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to gain real-world experience, earn a wage, and achieve nationally recognised qualifications—all at the same time. They combine practical training in a job with study, allowing you to build valuable skills while working towards a career.

One of the biggest misconceptions about apprenticeships is that they’re a fallback for those who don’t want to go to university. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Apprenticeships are challenging, competitive, and highly respected by employers. They exist in a wide range of industries—from engineering and healthcare to digital marketing, law, and finance. Some even lead to degree-level qualifications, all without the student debt.

Not all apprenticeship opportunities are advertised in one place. To maximise your chances: explore the careers sections of company websites, contact employers directly to ask about potential opportunities, get part-time work in a relevant sector—it can lead to future apprenticeship offers, and stay proactive by checking multiple sources regularly.

Here’s a guide to the best websites and tools to help you explore and apply for apprenticeships:

Amazing Apprenticeships: A brilliant site packed with information, guides, and live vacancies. It’s the most recommended resource by the York careers community and a great starting point for any student, parent/carer or employer.

Unifrog: Every student at our school has a Unifrog account (your school email and your chosen password—easily reset if needed). Unifrog offers the most comprehensive apprenticeship search tool available, alongside helpful resources for applications, CVs, and more.

Government ‘Find an Apprenticeship’ Site: This is the official national database for apprenticeship vacancies. While not every opportunity is listed here, it’s essential to register and check regularly.

City of York Council Apprenticeship Updates: Students can sign up for regular email updates from the City of York Council, which highlight local apprenticeship vacancies. A great way to stay informed about opportunities close to home.

Success at School: An excellent site for preparing your apprenticeship applications. It offers advice on CV writing, interview techniques, and understanding the recruitment process.

Rate My Apprenticeship: A general search site where you can browse vacancies and read reviews from current and former apprentices—helpful for getting a real sense of what to expect.

UCAS Apprenticeships: UCAS isn’t just for university. Their apprenticeship section offers a broad search tool and helpful guidance on how apprenticeships compare to other post-16 and post-18 options.

The Apprenticeship Directory: This resource lists training providers in the region. While many people find apprenticeships by looking at employers first, training providers often post their own vacancies or have their own internal systems—so it’s well worth a look.