There are many excellent apprenticeship opportunities in the UK with more and more appearing due to the current skills shortage. Employers are beginning to recognise the wide variety of benefits that apprenticeships can offer their businesses. But it’s not only employers who reap the rewards. There are plenty of reasons why apprenticeships are an excellent option for job seekers too. One such benefit is the fact that apprentices earn while they learn. Interestingly, the highest-paid apprenticeships UK tend to correlate to the job roles that offer the best pay rates.
In this blog, we delve into the ins and outs of the apprenticeships offering the highest salaries in the UK. Of course, we also share how to find and apply for them so you can begin your apprenticeship journey.
Highest Paid Apprenticeships UK 2023
In terms of the amount of money that apprentices can earn, there are some obvious candidates for the highest-paid apprenticeships UK. Here’s what we have found:
Cyber Security Technologist – Level 4 – £27,000pa via UK Civil Service
It’s no surprise that in times of international uncertainty, the UK Civil Service is recruiting Cyber Security apprentices. The Civil Service is offering them somewhere between £23,850 – £27,000 per annum. This is an excellent salary for an apprenticeship. Moreover, it emphasises the importance currently being placed on cyber security by international governments.
The apprenticeship standard typically takes 24 months to complete, not including the End Point Assessment. It is the usual mixture of 80% on-the-job training and 20% off-the-job training, with apprentices being paid for both parts.
As part of this apprenticeship, you will learn how to identify and combat cyber security threats and protect the organisation you are working for. You will learn advanced encryption and decryption as well as skills like digital forensics. Earning well and keeping the UK safe from exterior cyber threats, it doesn’t get much better than doing your patriotic duty and being paid handsomely for it.
Software Development Tehnician – £20,000pa + £3k Signing-on – BP
One of the most famous companies in the UK, BP, are offering one of the best apprenticeship rates. On top of that, they are offering a golden handshake worth £3,000. It shouldn’t be a surprise to see the petrochemical industry paying top dollar. They are an incredibly profitable sector and such profits don’t come by standing still.
As a software development apprentice at BP for two years, you will be asked to write complex software. You will then test it and ultimately deploy it once it has gone through the review and quality assurance rounds. This is a job with a lot of responsibility which is reflected in the high salary. The idea here is to ensure they find the right person for the role.
As with the other apprenticeships, 80% of your time will be spent doing on-the-job training and 20% on off-the-job training. In the latter, you will learn the technical aspects of the job role so you can execute it to a high standard.
BP are giants in their industry and we would expect them to be prepared to pay a decent amount of money to their apprentices. They aspire to be a company leading the way in many areas. As such, being able to pay apprentices the kind of money they are offering ensures they are leaders in the apprenticeship space as well.
Professional Accounting – Level 4 – £23,000pa – Tesco
This is the Higher Level Professional Accounting apprenticeship offered by Tesco. It is likely aimed at filling one of the skills gaps they are experiencing as part of the wider UK skills shortage. This two-year apprenticeship with one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains is an excellent opportunity for the right young person. It offers very competitive pay and the chance to go on to a further 3 years of study afterwards.
The ability to learn the necessary financial skills, such as drafting and reviewing accounts and double-entry bookkeeping, will help you to take the next steps forward in your career. You will also gain expert knowledge of the business taxation system in the UK. This will prove invaluable when looking after your career progression in future.
All apprenticeship standards in the UK have an on-the-job component and an off-the-job component. The first portion takes up 80% of the apprentice’s time and the second takes up the remaining 20%.
Tesco has also dabbled in the banking arena so they understand the importance of having the right people handling the finances. Being able to offer such a lucrative wage to an apprentice indicates that they are looking for only the best candidates. Once accepted, you will become a valued member of the Tesco team. As the slogan goes, “Every little helps!”
Counter Fraud Investigator – Level 4 – £22,000pa – Santander
Santander is one of the biggest names in banking in the UK and Europe and they are taking on apprentices to help investigate fraudulent activities. Many of these will lead to criminal investigations and people having their day in court. This is very valuable work and it is great to see Santander appreciate the importance of taking fraud seriously. It impacts their business but it also impacts the lives of thousands, if not millions of people affected by it every year.
Santander is a significant player in the UK banking industry. It seems that all banks are actively recruiting to try to cut down on the losses made to fraudulent activity every year. Every time your bank helps you with a fraudulent transaction, that costs them money as well. So, it is in everybody’s interests that scammers are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The apprenticeship is for two years and there are great prospects for successful apprentices. Getting your foot in the door at a company as large as Santander could lead to work almost anywhere in the world.
Find an Apprenticeship Today
If you would like to begin the search for an apprenticeship today, take a look at our dedicated apprenticeship jobs board. It’s packed with thousands of apprenticeships that might just be exactly what you are looking for. Needless to say, we can’t promise they will all pay as well as the highest-paid apprenticeships UK. However, you will almost certainly find something that will work for you.
Feel free to contact our team if you have any questions. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter using the form below for all the latest news and opportunities from Employing an Apprentice.
