Scotland’s Early Careers Marketplace:

Early Career is about your early working life and those first transitions between education and employment. We like to think of it as club 16-30. A journey with new relationships, achievements and set-backs, twists and turns that will lead you down the path to a fantastic career.

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences alongside on-the-job training. There are a few different types here so let’s start with the biggest and the smallest. Some of the world’s biggest employers have regional, national, European or global apprenticeships which have certificates awarded outside of Scotland. At the opposite end of the scale, some small/rural employers and specialist trades may still provide uncertified ‘time-served’ apprenticeships.

Modern Apprenticeships are a Scottish Government brand of apprenticeship, administered by Skills Development Scotland. They are normally based on fixed-term, paid employment where you undertake a vocational qualification with a training provider whilst you are working. They are certified in Scotland with qualifications awarded or recognised by the SQA. Earn while you learn, and you could take the next step to become a graduate apprentice.

Graduate Apprenticeships are a Scottish Government brand of apprenticeship, administered by Skills Development Scotland. They are paid employment where you undertake a university degree and other professional qualifications whilst you are working. They are certified in Scotland with qualifications awarded by universities and professional bodies. You would normally need either Highers, HNC/D or a Modern Apprenticeship in order to be considered.

Graduate jobs are permanent roles for university leavers and are usually the first step in a professional career. Less people land top roles when starting in entry-level positions vs those who start in graduate jobs.