The best-kept secret in careers: apprenticeships have a season
University applications have a famous deadline. Apprenticeships have something almost nobody tells you about: a season. From September to November, the UK's biggest employers open their schemes for the following year — and many close before Christmas. Apply in spring and you are fishing in a pond the organised applicants already emptied.
Who opens applications in autumn
- Engineering and aerospace: Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus and Network Rail typically open between September and November.
- Banking and finance: HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and the big accountancy firms open school-leaver and degree apprenticeship schemes in early autumn.
- Public sector: the Civil Service Fast Track and NHS trusts recruit through autumn.
- Tech: BT, Sky, Google and IBM schemes open at various points from September onwards.
Dates vary by employer, which is exactly why autumn matters: you need to be watching before you need a place, not after.
Your four-step autumn checklist
- Get your CV done in September — before the schemes open, not after. Shine's free CV builder is made for first CVs.
- Set up alerts and check weekly. Schemes close when they hit applicant caps, not just on the stated date.
- Practise online assessments. Most large employers use situational judgement and numeracy tests; free practice tests are widely available and a weekend of practice measurably helps.
- Apply to several, not one. Strong applicants typically apply to five to ten schemes across the season.
What employers actually screen for at 16–18
It is rarely grades alone. Reliability, genuine interest in that industry, and basic preparation — knowing what the company makes or does — carry enormous weight. A Saturday job, a volunteering stint or a personal project often counts for more than an extra grade.
See what is open right now on the Shine opportunities board — every listing is link-checked daily — and read our guides to engineering apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships.