There are a growing number of exciting opportunities to begin or advance a career through environmentally focused apprenticeships. However, knowing where to start can sometimes feel overwhelming.
This page is here to help. It brings together useful resources, guidance, and links to support you in exploring and applying for apprenticeships in England.
If you’re looking for information on apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, please scroll to the bottom of the page for region-specific links.
Introducing apprenticeships
The Skills for Careers page provides a clear and helpful introduction to apprenticeships, including the different levels available and the wide range of occupations (over 700) you can explore: Apprenticeships | Skills for Careers
The Amazing Apprenticeships website is a user-friendly platform designed to support individuals, including students, parents, and educators, in understanding, finding, and applying for apprenticeships and other technical education options – Click Student Zone to access the site.
The Green Careers Week section on the Amazing Apprenticeships website is packed with engaging and educational content designed to help students, teachers, parents, and carers explore careers that support sustainability and environmental goals.
You can even access a step-by-step guide, taking you through the process of finding and applying for an apprenticeship in an easy to follow and accessible way. Step-by-step guide to applying for an apprenticeship, or click on the image to access.
Applying for an apprenticeship
UCAS offers thorough guidance on how to find and apply for an apprenticeship here.
You can also search for the full range of apprenticeship vacancies visiting the gov.uk website using this link.
Exploring apprenticeships and technical education options
Occupational Maps are interactive tools available on the Skills England website that visually demonstrate how different occupations are connected through skills, qualifications, and career progression.
Developed in collaboration with employers, these maps reflect real-world job roles and training pathways. They allow users to explore how the skills needed for various occupations can be developed through Apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications HTQs.
The Occupational Maps are a valuable resource for:
- Exploring career pathways – Helping you understand the different training and progression routes available in your chosen field.
- Connecting the dots – Showing how various roles at different levels are linked, making it easier to plan your next steps.
- Supporting career planning – Offering insights into workforce trends and potential salaries to help you make informed decisions about your future.
You can also filter to occupations that have a green focus, with occupations defined as mid-green or dark-green:
‘A mid-green occupation will remain the same in overall scope but there might be a need for new knowledge, skills and behaviours to be embedded to enable the use of new technologies and approaches.’
‘A dark green occupation, for example wind turbine engineer, is embedded within the green occupational landscape and delivering sustainable outcomes.’
Other learning options that support or serve as alternatives to apprenticeships
Skills Bootcamps are a great way to learn skills in demand and support your employment. More details can be found here – https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/skills-bootcamp. On this site you can search by location and sector.
Higher Technical Qualifications – are Level 4 and 5 technical qualifications in England, designed to equip individuals with specialist, job-ready skills that meet employer-defined standards. Find out more on how these valuable qualifications can support your employability – Higher technical qualifications (HTQs) | Skills for Careers.
T Levels – offer hands-on experience, industry-relevant skills, and a clear path to employment or further study, empowering your future success. A website that guides you on the options is available here – T Levels for students | T Levels. More details can also be found by reading a previous insight piece here.
Guidance for employers
If you are an employer and want to understand better how to engage with education (including apprenticeships and the wider provision) to address your workforce skills needs, visit the Education Landscape here.
The Education Landscape website helps employers (SMEs) engage with apprenticeships by offering clear, independent guidance on how to navigate the education and skills system in England. It provides practical resources, such as the Education Landscape Guide and Index, that outline ways businesses can get involved, including offering apprenticeships, work placements, and mentoring.
Employers can discover how to shape local training to meet industry needs, access future talent, and upskill their workforce. The site also highlights the business benefits of engagement, such as improved recruitment, staff retention, and enhanced brand reputation.
Apprenticeships in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic or Ireland
Apprenticeships in Scotland – https://www.apprenticeships.scot/become-an-apprentice/
Apprenticeships in Wales – https://careerswales.gov.wales/apprenticeships
Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland – https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-apprenticeship-opportunities
Apprenticeship in Republic of Ireland – https://apprenticeship.ie/
Need inspiration on potential careers?
The SocEnv Career Advice Hub offers links to guidance from professional bodies across environmental and sustainability sectors. It helps explore career pathways and discover training opportunities, helping to connect individuals with organisations that support professional development. Access it here – Career Advice Hub – Advice from Professional Bodies
Green Jobs for Nature – is a platform that helps individuals explore careers focused on protecting and restoring nature. It offers job profiles, career pathways, resources, and real-life stories to inspire people, to pursue green roles in ecology, conservation, and environmental management – https://greenjobsfornature.org/
Green Careers Hub – a great resource to explore the range of green careers available – https://www.greencareershub.com/ many of which have an apprenticeship pathway. The site also includes a useful regional map so you can see the sectors needing skills in your area – https://www.greencareershub.com/green-future/uk-regional-view/. These skills may be addressed through apprenticeships, as well as other educational programmes such as Skills Bootcamps, Higher Technical Qualifications and T Levels to name a few.
Tom Cheek – SocEnv
