Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a great way to start your Environment Agency career.

Our entry-level opportunities for school and university leavers include Business Administrator, Data Analyst and the Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship.

With on-the-job training and protected learning time, apprenticeships offer flexible development opportunities for people from all backgrounds and circumstances. And most programmes can often be adjusted to suit individual needs.

Duration

12 – 24 Months

Salary

Variable

Location

Across England

Environment Agency Early Careers – Youth Employment UK

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An apprenticeship puts you in a paid role while enabling you to study for professional accreditation. After completing your apprenticeship, you’ll have the knowledge needed to progress in your chosen field.

We offer a range of apprenticeship opportunities and career entry programmes, including degree apprenticeships and entry-level recruitment to core roles. We also offer apprenticeships as an upskilling opportunity for our existing colleagues.
To be considered for an apprenticeship programme in England, you need to:
- be 16 or over
- be living in England
- not be in full-time education
An apprenticeship is a real job, covering the knowledge, skills and behaviours outlined by the occupational standard. You can find more information about occupational standards on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website here

Occupational Maps: Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education
Environment Agency apprenticeships offer many opportunities, including:
- Choice – The diverse range of areas and roles at the Environment Agency opens-up a breadth of learning and development opportunities. We offer apprenticeships from levels 2 to 7, which is equivalent to GCSEs all the way up to post-graduate degree level.
- Widening participation – Apprenticeships create inclusive, work-based learning pathways to careers traditionally accessed through study at university. Our Environmental Practitioner and Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeships offer an ‘earn and learn’ alternative to university education.
- Earn and learn – We offer a variety of opportunities that combine on-the-job training with structured development, enabling apprentices to earn a salary as they learn.
- Career progression support – We’ll enable you to grow your skills and talent as you progress your career with us. You’ll be supported by managers, mentors and technical specialists who are experts in their field
We offer apprenticeship opportunities at each level corresponding to a different educational qualification:
- Level 2 – GCSEs
- Level 3 – A-Levels
- Levels 4 and 5 – Higher Education Certificate/Diploma or Foundation Degree
- Level 6 – Bachelor’s Degree
- Level 7 – Master’s Degree

Our apprenticeship recruitment takes place year-round, so it’s worth looking out for roles on our jobs board.

Depending on the apprenticeship, start dates can be monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or yearly.

There are lots of great apprenticeships available and we want to ensure our colleagues have the skills and knowledge to do their roles, so we support them to take on opportunities where possible. If a role isn’t advertised with an apprenticeship, it’s worth talking to the recruiting manager about potential opportunities.

Youth Employment UK

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Hear our apprentices’
stories – take a look

“I began my degree apprenticeship straight after finishing my A Levels. I really enjoyed Geography and knew that I didn’t want to go to university, as I wanted a mix of practical and field-based learning, as well as the academic side too. The Degree Apprenticeship allowed me to experience these both.”

Harriet, Waterways Planning Officer. Kent.
Watch this film to find out more.

Water Environment Worker (WEW) Apprenticeship

This apprenticeship is the Environment Agency’s mandatory upskilling provision for new starters in Flood & Coastal Risk Management Field Operations. It provides the solid training foundation and wealth of skills needed to become asset maintainers and operators.

Ensuring we have highly skilled colleagues, this apprenticeship benefits the team as well as individuals and their career development.

Apply here

Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (EPDA)

Our Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship (EPDA) is designed to develop your skills and capabilities while giving you the experience and opportunities to make a real difference.

As an apprentice, you’ll rotate between teams across the organisation, gaining a broad understanding of our work. Alongside practical experience, you’ll study with a training provider through a mix of online learning, block weeks, and field trips. Travel for training is part of the programme, and your host team will provide subsistence support.

Recruitment for the EPDA takes place annually, with apprentices starting in September.
Adverts for the 2026 intake will go live in February 2026 – so keep an eye out and be ready to apply.

Environmental practitioner (Degree) / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

Apply here