The Liverpool skyline, with the Liver building prominent behind more modern waterfront buildings

The North West is one of the fastest growing areas of the UK, with Manchester in particular a major centre for the digital and tech industries. Construction is booming right across the region, and there are some great opportunities for apprentices to start a new career. 

Search on Talentview for the latest vacancies and find out more below about what makes the North West so good for apprentices.  

Top locations in the North West

The North West has a proud history of music, sport and culture, but is it attractive for apprentices looking to earn a qualification and start a new career? Absolutely!  

Liverpool 

With its rich maritime history, music and arts heritage, Liverpool has become a major growth city, not just in the North West but the whole of the UK. Apprentices in Merseyside have access to a fantastic range of on-the-job training opportunities, from institutions like Liverpool John Moores University, The City of Liverpool College and Hugh Baird College. Construction apprenticeships are popular in Liverpool, fuelled by significant regeneration projects like Liverpool Waters and the Knowledge Quarter.  

Manchester 

Manchester is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK, and one that has seen a remarkable building boom over the last 10-15 years. It is a great place to do an apprenticeship, study or train, and is home to over 100,000 students. Any apprentice spending time studying, training or gaining work experience in the city will appreciate the diversity and international flavour of life in Manchester, whether that be in its food, nightlife or culture. 

Preston 

The city of Preston offers a huge number of opportunities for apprentices, with Preston College and the University of Central Lancashire delivering high quality training and apprenticeships. BAE Systems is one of the main employers in the region, working closely with vocational colleges and universities in the area to develop specialist apprenticeship programmes, including those in the construction industry.  

Chester 

Chester may be one of the smaller cities in the North West but it packs a punch in terms of earning while you learn. It attracts school leavers and apprentices of all ages, offering plenty of opportunities to start a new career. Cheshire College works with over 500 local, national and international employers, delivering apprenticeships across sectors including Engineering & Manufacturing, Construction and Building Services, Retail and IT. The University of Chester offer degree apprenticeships in fields such as nursing, policing and social care. 

What types of apprenticeships are available in the North West?

Construction apprentice at work

Degree apprenticeships 

Degree apprenticeships are qualifications developed by employers in partnership with universities and colleges. They will require you to have existing qualifications in the relevant subject area. 

Degree apprenticeships can take up to six years to complete, but you will have the best of both worlds – a paid job while studying for a degree at a university. Degree apprenticeships are offered by the University of Central Lancashire, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Chester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester and the University of Salford. 

Construction apprenticeships 

Towns and cities in the North West of England are great places to build a career in construction. You could be working with a major employer like WSP or Balfour Beatty on one of the next big city regeneration projects, or learning your trade under the expert guidance of a professional at one of the specialist colleges in the area. Search on Talentview for the latest construction apprenticeships in the North West.  

Adult apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships are not just for school leavers, or young people. If you are of working age, you can take an apprenticeship, because apprenticeships are for anyone who is learning new skills and undertaking a formal programme of study as part of a career that is new to them. Many people retrain in later life and take a career change. Adult apprenticeships of a variety of levels are available across the North West of England, giving people the chance to learn vocational skills while being paid at the same time.  

Find out more about construction apprenticeships 

There are hundreds of apprenticeships available in the construction industry. Earn while you learn and gain the qualifications and experience you need for a role in the construction sector.   

Explore apprenticeship opportunities in the North West

Whatever sector of construction you are interested in, there are apprenticeship jobs and programmes across the North West of the country ideal for you. Search on Talentview and you will find a range of opportunities, such as Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Steel Fixing, Roofing and Plumbing.