Develop Skills for Life: 9 Unbeatable Reasons to Pursue an Apprenticeship with Jacobs

Whether you're just starting out, upskilling, or looking for a career change, a U.K. apprenticeship combines “hands on” practical work experience with training and study, enabling you to apply what you learn. Many apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those looking for their first role after leaving full-time education.

There is greater choice than ever at Jacobs with the range of apprenticeships we offer across the U.K. Our business and the world need innovators and problem solvers who aren’t afraid to reframe the challenge and think differently to help create and deliver the right solutions. Our apprenticeships provide core and practical skills that will help shape and create a generation of leaders that can solve for the future — design thinkers, innovators, collaborators and communicators.

#OurJacobs apprentices work across our business supporting a variety of projects, major programs, corporate functions and our research and development facilities. We recruited over 100 new apprentices in 2023 in the U.K. and aim to grow that number further in 2024. Across the country, we have apprenticeship opportunities ranging from entry level to degree level in a wide variety of disciplines including Civil Engineering, Town Planning, Quantity Surveying, Maintenance & Operations Engineering, Project Management, and many more.

“Helping us to develop the next generation of professionals, our apprenticeships in the U.K. enable our future talent to build important, practical skills in the workplace and unlock some really diverse and exciting career opportunities,” says Jacobs Senior Vice President Kate Kenny. “By attracting and retaining the best talent to deliver for our clients, we help deliver better outcomes and solutions in the communities where we live and work.”

Jacobs Vice President - Technology, Consulting & Innovation Greg Willetts adds: “We offer great career opportunities for young people who want to work for a company that makes a difference to the world, for instance by tackling climate change. As well as learning valuable practical and technical skills, our apprentices will be working in an inclusive and supportive workplace, with people who care about their development.”

Our apprentices work on live projects within multi-disciplinary project teams, while training with an approved apprenticeship training provider, so they build a range of relevant technical skills and knowledge they need to establish a rewarding career with us.

“Doing an apprenticeship enables you to develop knowledge from studying and apply it instantly to the job – all while earning a salary,” explains Jacobs Electrical Technician Shakeel Jeerooburkhan. “At Jacobs, we are surrounded by experienced colleagues helping us to elevate and develop transferable skills and perform at a high standard.”

“I applied to complete an apprenticeship with Jacobs as I really valued the company focus on health, safety and wellbeing,” says Jacobs Junior Associate Guy Meyers. “That’s what made Jacobs stand out amongst many other recruiters at the time.”

Jacobs Civil Engineering Technician Jack Purrmann-Charles adds: “The best rewards of doing an apprenticeship at Jacobs are not only that you’re getting paid, but you’re also learning and completing meaningful work that enhances and compliments your studies.”

Why should you become an apprentice with Jacobs?

1. Gain fantastic insight to working in your chosen area: An apprenticeship with Jacobs provides “hands-on” practical experience in a meaningful job role, learning the right skills in a real environment.
2. Learn from those in the know: You’ll have access to great support when you become an apprentice at Jacobs –both from working alongside experienced people in your workplace and from specialist trainers at your apprenticeship training provider who are there to help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
3. Gain the skills you need to build a career: Many apprenticeships, and the skills, knowledge and behaviors that you build, have been designed with employers so they are what employers need and value and could give you the advantage when applying for jobs in the future.
4. Choose from different levels to suit you and your ambitions: Apprenticeships are not only a way to start your career but also a way of progressing or changing career direction when you are in a job.
5. Access lots of career choices: Apprenticeships span a wide range of career disciplines and most sectors, from civil engineering through to project management, with new apprenticeships being developed all the time.
6. Build your professional networks: On an apprenticeship you will naturally meet lots of people within Jacobs and perhaps with external suppliers and agencies as well. You’ll be in an ideal place to build professional relationships and networks to succeed in your current role and for your future career ambitions. You will also be encouraged to join our Jacobs apprenticeship network, and can connect through our Jacobs Employee Networks, our Communities of Practice and in other ways, to collaborate and meet new colleagues.
7. Stand out from the crowd: Apprenticeships are an excellent way to gain access to the sector you want to work in, and if you do a really good job and become a valued member of our team it will put you in a strong position when future job opportunities may arise.
8. Learn transferable skills: As apprentices do real jobs in real work environments at Jacobs, you will gain the softer skills that help you throughout your career and make you more confident, such as team working, effective communication and problem solving.
9. Enjoy what you do: Not only are apprenticeships a fantastic way to really understand an industry and find a career that you enjoy, at Jacobs you will get to meet many different people and make new friends.

Look out for England’s National Apprenticeship Week February 5 – 11, 2024, to find out more about apprenticeships and celebrate the achievements of apprentices and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses and the wider economy.