Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship really is for anyone, whether this is your first step into work, you’re looking for a change, or if you want to upskill and add more value to your career. We’re ready to welcome you into National Highways regardless of your background or level of experience.

The only criteria that you’ll need to meet to be considered for an apprenticeship are:

• You have an unrestricted right to work in the UK
• You have lived in the UK for at least three consecutive years before the start date of the apprenticeship
• You have achieved (or are expected to achieve) the minimum educational qualifications and grades needed for entry

The minimum qualifications will be different depending on the level and type of apprenticeship. Please check individual adverts carefully for full details of what you’ll need. Predicted grades will be accepted at application and offers will be conditional on successfully achieving the required grades before the apprenticeship starts.

Otherwise, being a good apprentice is all about what you can bring to the team! You’ll enjoy working with others, know how to stick to deadlines and plan your time, communicate information effectively and most of all, you’ll be enthusiastic about growing your career with us.

All offers to apprenticeships are subject to passing our pre-employment checks. This includes:

• Right to Work check
• Reference check
• DBS criminal record check

Please be aware some apprenticeship roles may require working at night and because of this, applicants must be aged 18 or over by the start date. This will be clearly stated on the job advert if this applies to the role.

Depending on the level of the apprenticeship, you’ll earn a salary starting at:

• Level 3: £16,100 per annum
• Level 4: £18,600 per annum
• Level 5: £21,530 per annum
• Level 6: £22,800 per annum

As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a fantastic range of employee benefits, including:

• Annual Leave starting at 26 days, plus Bank Holidays
• Generous pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Over 3000 discounts on shopping, dining, days out and much more!
• Flexible working arrangements and blended working between office and home
• And more!

Take a look at our full employee benefits package.

We’re committed to your development every step of the way.

You’ll get a flexible programme of apprenticeship training, personalised to your needs and with all the support you need to succeed in your new career. This is usually a mix of online learning, practical demonstration, assignments and on-the-job assessments, as well as formal teaching sessions and workshops.

You’ll have a dedicated skills coach and a line manager to guide you and support your personal and professional development throughout your apprenticeship.

We also partner with professional bodies such as Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Association for Project Management (APM) and others to help you on the road to industry recognition early in your career.

You’ll need to be prepared to commit to a formal programme of learning and this will be different for each apprenticeship. You’ll be enrolled onto a course with an external provider to study towards a professional qualification.

To find out more about the standards and qualifications you’ll be working towards, please check out the advert for the apprenticeship you’re interested in.

You’ll have set time away from your job to complete your studies, which may involve attending a training provider, college or university on day or block release.

Courses will usually start in September and details of the course content will be confirmed at offer stage. All courses are fully funded as part of the apprenticeship, so you won’t need to pay anything towards it.

Apprenticeships are based in our offices and sites across England. Some are flexible on location, others will have set locations. Please check individual adverts for details.

You’ll have opportunities to work from home, but you’ll also need to be able to travel (at least 2 days per week) to your base location.

If there’s a choice of location, we’ll do our best to meet your preference, but we can’t guarantee this, so do think about this carefully before applying. National Highways is unable to cover the cost of relocation.

Wherever you’re based, you’ll need to be flexible to travel to other locations as needed and we’ll cover your expenses at those times. This includes any day or block release learning where you’ll need to travel to attend the training provider, college or university in person.

If you’d like to apply to our apprenticeships, please wait until our opportunities are open for applications - they’ll be advertised right here on this page. You’ll then be able to complete the online application process for the roles that you’re interested in.

Applications will open:

• Level 6 degree apprenticeships: week commencing 20 November 2023
• Level 3, 4, and 5 apprenticeships: early February 2024

Unfortunately, we can’t accept CVs or applications sent directly over email.

First, you’ll complete an online application form. Be prepared to tell us why you’re interested in National Highways and the apprenticeship you’re applying for.

You can only submit one application per apprenticeship. You can apply to more than one apprenticeship, but please only apply to those that are the best match for your skills and interests. If you’re shortlisted, we’ll ask you to choose your preferred role as you can only complete the rest of the selection process once.

As part of the online application, you’ll also complete a short work scenarios-based assessment and some pre-screening questions.

If successful, we’ll invite you to record a video interview using your own device, so we can get to know you better. There’ll be a deadline to stick to, so keep an eye on your emails and try not to leave it until the last minute!

If you pass, the final stage is a virtual assessment day, where you’ll meet our hiring managers and Early Talent team. We’ll give you all the details to help you prepare if you reach this stage.

Applications for 2024 Level 6 degree apprenticeships will close on at midday on Monday 18 December 2023.

The deadline for Levels 3, 4 and 5 apprenticeships will be announced as soon as they are advertised.

We may close applications before the advertised closing date depending on the volume of applications we receive. If there’s an opportunity you’re really interested in, do get your application in nice and early to avoid disappointment!

We’ll email you about the progress of your application after each stage, whether you’ve been successful or not.

As we receive many applications, it may take some time to get back to you, so please be patient. However, we’ll update you as soon as we can.

Do make sure that you provide us with an email address that you’ll be able to access regularly and check all your contact details are correct before submitting your application.

If you have any questions, there’ll be email and telephone contact details for our dedicated apprentice recruitment team included in all emails you receive during the process. We’ll be very happy to help you.

Please do not contact National Highways customer contact centres or offices with queries about your application.

In line with GDPR, we can’t discuss you application with anyone except yourself. If anyone, such as a family member or tutor contacts us on your behalf wanting an update on your application, they will not be given any information.

We’re passionate about creating a culture where our people feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing. Ways that we support this include:

• A range of employee networks and online communities
• Health and wellbeing initiatives

There’s also a dedicated Early Talent Network, where you can connect with other apprentices across the country through online groups and in person events, including an annual awards ceremony.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we’ll support you during the recruitment process and in your role with any reasonable adjustments you might need due to a disability. Please get in touch to discuss your needs.

Find out more about our values and how we support our people.

The end of your apprenticeship doesn’t have to be goodbye. We’ll take time to discuss your career plans with you and help you identify a role with us that will be a great match and take you to the next level.

At National Highways, you’ll be sure of a rewarding and fulfilling career with fresh challenges and opportunities for years to come!