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mod_signThe Ministry of Defence is the single largest provider of apprenticeships in the UK.

Each year more than 18,000 apprenticeships are available to those working in the Armed Forces and the Civil Service. For many they offer a viable alternative to higher and further education. They not only provide high-quality accredited training in more than 300 specialist employment areas but also allow students to work and get paid to learn.

There are opportunities to undertake apprenticeships in a variety of trades from engineering and construction, to hospitality and animal care – both in the Armed Forces and fast-track schemes on the civilian side.

More than 95% of new Armed Forces recruits enrol in an apprenticeship every year, with the majority completing their training within two years.

What makes these apprenticeships so attractive is the fact that while the quality of the technical training the apprentices receive is high, equal importance is placed on developing skills such as leadership, discipline and a pride in their chosen trade.

While working hard is an important element, sport and leisure activities are also highly encouraged, making MOD apprenticeships stand out from other schemes.​

These apprenticeships form the basis of a commitment to developing careers and preparing people for exceptional second careers when the time comes to leave the military and build a life outside the Service. Those who take part in the training come from a very wide range of backgrounds and experience.

Flight Sergeant Karen Pinnion, training supervisor for the mechanical training flight at RAF Cosford, said: “We get a wide variety of guys and girls on our course, not just teenagers as you might think, but people in their 20s and 30s. Some are very good academically; we get degree-qualified people coming through as technicians as well as people straight from school. The mix is good because it adds to learning when people from different generations train together.

“What sets our apprenticeship apart is that our students get to move around. They get practical experience in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, which means you get meaningful practical experience that you bring back to the classroom, and you get life experience too.”