Early Careers

We are proud of the diverse range of Early Careers opportunities that we offer at OCU and feel that these entry routes are key to our business strategy and growth, as well as your success.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are open to all, no matter what your age or background, often making an apprenticeship the best option if you’re looking to change your career or upskill your role.

OCU Group teaches and supports the behaviours, skills, knowledge and experience that all apprentices need to build a successful career. We work with a range of colleges, training providers and universities to offer the best training in the industry.

We recognise the importance of having apprentices in our workforce. We welcomed our first apprentice over twenty years ago and continue to train and develop apprentices over a range of disciplines and levels.

All our apprentices are fully supported throughout OCU Apprenticeship Programme with mentors, buddies and scheduled progress reviews all in place to further support your development.

Graduates and Undergraduates

We offer academic routes into our business through our Graduate and Undergraduate schemes;

A Graduate is typically someone who has completed the required coursework and academic requirements for a degree or diploma from an education institution, such as a further education, a college or university.

An Undergraduate is someone still undertaking academic study and will partake in work experience through placements of varying durations.

All our Graduates and Undergraduates are fully supported throughout the programme with mentors, buddies and scheduled progress reviews all in place to further support your development.

Graduates attend regular CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions focused on a range of topics, undertake job specific training, and leadership and management sessions.

T Levels and Work Experience

If you are interested in a career within the industry but need some support with choosing a field or focus, OCU Group offers a range of Work Experience and T Level placements covering a variety of different roles.

Opportunities are typically offered to students or recent graduates to gain practical experience in a work environment. These placements are designed to provide exposure to real-world work situations, helping individuals develop skills, build their professional network, and improve their understanding of a specific industry or career path.

Overall, the goal of a work experience placement is to enhance employability by giving individuals valuable insights, the practical skills and confidence to apply to future roles.

If the placement goes well there are potential opportunities to join our OCU Apprenticeship scheme on successful completion of the academic qualification being studied.