Apprenticeships in Hull: A Complete Guide

Hull has one of the more varied apprenticeship markets in the Humber region, spanning offshore wind manufacturing, healthcare, engineering, ports and general trades. What makes the city distinctive is the range of levels on offer in one place: you can start a Level 2 apprenticeship straight from school, or move all the way through to a Level 7 (master’s-equivalent) degree apprenticeship at the University of Hull without leaving the city. This guide sets out how the system works and where the main local opportunities sit.

How apprenticeship levels work

Apprenticeships in England run from Level 2 through to Level 7, and each level maps to an academic equivalent:

• Level 2 (Intermediate) – equivalent to GCSEs. A common starting point in trades, hospitality, and administrative roles.
• Level 3 (Advanced) – equivalent to A-levels. Widely used in engineering, construction and technical roles, and the level many school leavers move onto after a Level 2 or their GCSEs.
• Level 4–5 (Higher) – equivalent to a foundation degree or HND. Common in engineering technician and healthcare support roles.
• Level 6 (Degree) – equivalent to a full bachelor’s degree, delivered jointly by an employer and a university.
• Level 7 (Master’s degree) – equivalent to a postgraduate qualification, increasingly used for specialist and leadership roles in engineering and healthcare.

Duration varies with level and sector: a Level 2 apprenticeship might run for one year, while a Level 6 or 7 degree apprenticeship can take five to six years part-time, since you’re combining a full academic workload with a working week.

Where the opportunities are in Hull

Offshore wind and Siemens Gamesa

Hull sits at the centre of the Humber’s “Energy Estuary” identity, and the clearest example is the Siemens Gamesa blade factory on the King George Dock, the UK’s largest offshore wind manufacturing site, employing around 1,300 people. Siemens Gamesa runs its apprenticeship intake jointly with Hull College, with up to 30 new apprenticeships offered through the partnership, covering manufacturing, engineering and technical maintenance disciplines that feed directly into blade production and the wider offshore wind supply chain. Given the scale of the site and the pace of hiring across the sector, it’s one of the more visible apprenticeship routes in the city, and one worth applying to early given the interest it attracts. Our offshore wind guide covers the wider sector context, and the Siemens Gamesa Hull employer profile has more on the site itself. If turbine maintenance rather than manufacturing is the direction you want, see how to become a wind turbine technician.

Degree apprenticeships at the University of Hull

The University of Hull runs degree apprenticeships from Level 4 up to Level 7, delivered through its Hubble careers service in partnership with employers across the region. Two routes stand out for Hull specifically:

1. Nursing degree apprenticeships, which train working healthcare assistants and support workers into registered nurses while they continue in paid employment, typically with an NHS employer such as NHS Humber Health Partnership sponsoring the place.
2. MSc Offshore Wind Energy Engineering degree apprenticeship, a Level 7 programme that reflects the University’s position at the centre of the region’s renewables cluster, aimed at engineers already working in the sector who want to move into more senior technical or leadership roles.

Both routes let you earn a salary and gain a recognised degree without taking on tuition fee debt, though they demand a serious commitment alongside full-time work. For the full picture on what the University offers, see our dedicated degree apprenticeships at the University of Hull guide, and the general NHS apprenticeships in the Humber page if healthcare is your focus.

Technical secondary provision: Ron Dearing UTC and ENL UTC

For 14 to 19 year-olds who know they want a technical or engineering-focused education before committing to an apprenticeship, Hull has two University Technical Colleges: Ron Dearing UTC and ENL UTC. Both specialise in STEM and technical subjects taught alongside employer partners such as Phillips 66, giving students hands-on exposure to industry and a head start on Level 3 apprenticeship applications once they finish. This route suits students who are fairly sure an apprenticeship, rather than the traditional sixth-form-to-university path, is the direction they want, since the curriculum is built around employer relevance from the outset.

Trades, engineering and general apprenticeships

Beyond the headline routes, Hull College offers a broad spread of Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships across trades, engineering and technical disciplines, serving as the main further education provider for apprentices in the city. If you’re weighing up an apprenticeship against a more traditional route into engineering, our guide on how to get into engineering without a degree is worth reading alongside this one, and apprenticeships vs university covers the wider decision.

How to apply

1. Start with GOV.UK’s official listings. Find an apprenticeship is the national search tool covering live vacancies across England, including those in Hull, and Become an apprentice explains eligibility and the application process in full.
2. Check the provider directly. Hull College and the University of Hull both publish their own current apprenticeship vacancies and intake dates, which can appear before or alongside the GOV.UK listing.
3. Go straight to major local employers. Siemens Gamesa, NHS Humber Health Partnership and Phillips 66’s Humber Refinery all run their own apprenticeship recruitment cycles, often with fixed annual intake windows, so timing your application to match matters.
4. Prepare a tailored application. A generic CV rarely stands out for these routes. See our guide on writing a CV with no experience and cover letter templates for apprenticeships for practical help getting an application ready.
5. Expect an interview and, for technical routes, an assessment. Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships often include an aptitude or practical assessment alongside a standard interview.

Salaries during an apprenticeship vary by level, sector and employer, but as a broad, indicative guide, apprentices in engineering and technical Hull employers often start somewhere in the region of the apprentice minimum wage in year one, with many employers stepping pay up significantly by the second year and moving to a full starting salary, commonly in the region of £22,000–£28,000, once the apprenticeship is complete and the qualification is awarded. Exact figures depend heavily on the specific employer and role, so always check what’s stated in the vacancy itself rather than relying on general benchmarks. For wider job-search options once you’re qualified, see where to search for jobs in the Humber and how to find a job in the Humber.