14 Sept 2025 ● Chris Eccles
Civil Service Scheme To Create 50 New Apprenticeships in Birmingham, Manchester & London
The government has launched a new Career Launch Apprenticeship designed to give school leavers a direct route into the Civil Service.
The two-year scheme is open to applicants aged 16+ who have not been to university, with a minimum requirement of two GCSEs (grades 9–4/A–C or equivalent).
Successful candidates will be employed at administrative officer grade, earning at least £23,512 a year, while completing a Level 3 apprenticeship, the equivalent of two A-levels.
Around 50 roles will be offered across Birmingham, Manchester and London, with plans to expand to more regions in future so young people won’t need to move to the capital to work in government.
Apprentices will split their time between on-the-job training and dedicated study, gaining valuable skills and experience in departments such as the Department for Business and Trade, the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Office.
Launching the apprenticeship scheme, Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “We’re creating new ways for young people around the country to kickstart a career in the civil service so it reflects the people it serves.”
“I want the most talented to join the civil service, whether they’ve been to university or not. This apprenticeship scheme is an opportunity to make that happen,” added Mr McFadden.
Katharine Sendell, Head of Content Management Systems at the Cabinet Office Digital and a former Business Administrator Apprentice herself, also commented, saying: “I started my career as an apprentice 10 years ago, at age 19. It was the best decision I could have made for me, my development and my career progression.”
“I was able to continue learning in an environment that suited me, whilst earning a decent salary. It gave me the space and experience to decide what career path I wanted to follow and helped me get to where I am today,” said Ms Sendell.
If you are interested in a place on the scheme then you will need to move quickly as applications are closing on the 17th September 2025, with interviews in October and start dates from December ahead of formal learning in early 2026.
You can find out more and apply for one of the apprenticeships on the Civil Service Careers Launch website.
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