Fully funded degree level training for your employees
Graduate Apprenticeships are unique: offering a high level of academic and industry accreditation, combined with experience in the workplace.
We understand your business has specific skills needs, and that’s why we’ve developed Graduate Apprenticeships in partnership with employers like you.
Suitable for new and existing employees
Apprentices learn on the job, supported by Scotland’s top universities and colleges
Designed by industry to your specific business needs
Develop and retain skilled employees who understand your business
Improve your productivity, morale, staff retention and quality of service
How does it work?
A Graduate Apprentice will work for you full time. It's likely that they'll spend about 80% of their time at work, and 20% with a university or college.
You'll work with the university or college delivering the training to decide what kind of learning timetable best suits your business.
For example, it might suit you to have apprentices attending uni or college once a week. Or, online learning or a block release learning for several weeks, spaced throughout the year, may suit you better.
The mix between work and learning means the work your employees do counts towards their qualification.
1. Choose the course that interests you, and contact the university or college delivering it. Find out about the courses available now, and who to contact.
2. Discuss your entry requirements, timescales for recruitment, course content and assessment methods with the university or college
3. Create the job description (including entry requirements and a closing date)
4. Advertise your vacancy. You can post it here on apprenticeships.scot. It’s quick, easy to do and we’ll post it on our vacancy pages, publish it on carefully selected partner websites like Adzuna and My World of Work.
5. Review your applications and liaise with the university or college throughout
Who's involved?
Universities and colleges: 2018 delivery partners
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Glasgow Kelvin College
- Heriot - Watt University
- The Open University
- Queen Margaret University
- Robert Gordon University
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of Strathclyde
- University of St Andrews
- University of the Highlands and Islands
Building the future of Graduate Apprenticeships
Following on from the recent consultation on the apprenticeship levy, the Scottish Government has reaffirmed its committed to the expansion of work-based learning opportunities through Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships.
Scottish Ministers are committed to increasing the number of Modern Apprentices, including Graduate Apprentices, to 30,000 by 2020. They have expressed their strong support for the expansion of Foundation Apprenticeships, as an important part of its Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) youth employment strategy.
The Scottish Government, SDS and its partners understand the level of investment and commitment needed to meet the scale of ambition. We're confident that, by working with industry, employers, FE colleges and universities, Graduate Apprenticeships will become an embedded part of Scotland’s skills landscape by 2020 and beyond.
Get started
Get your business started with Graduate Apprenticeships
Find a Graduate Apprenticeship
There are 12 frameworks available, ranging from Business Skills to Engineering.
Find the Graduate Apprenticeship to fit your business.
Post your vacancy
Advertise your Graduate Apprenticeship vacancies for free. It’s quick, easy to do - we’ll post it here and on carefully selected partner websites like Adzuna and My World of Work.
Advertise a vacancyEmployer success stories
Hear from other employers about their experience of the Graduate Apprenticeship programme.
Aberdeen Standard Investments
Technical lead at Aberdeen Standard Investments Geoff Webb says that Liam, who is their first Graduate Apprentice, is having a positive impact on the team, and that apprentices like him are crucial to help the business operate successfully.
Got a question?
What is expected of a Graduate Apprentice and their employer? How and when are they recruited? How will the learning element work in practice?
We've pulled together answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Graduate Apprenticeships.
Diversity is good for business
Get expert advice on apprenticeships
We can give you free, one-to-one support, tailored to your business. Contact our Employer Engagement Team for free advice and support to get you started with apprenticeships.
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Skills Development Scotland is delivering Graduate Apprenticeships with support from the European Social Fund.
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About the levy