About JGA ’s communications apprenticeships

Communications apprenticeships offer a structured and inclusive route into and within the PR and communications industry. They facilitate diversity and professionalism and are for both new recruits and training more experienced staff in new roles, and sometimes in management roles.

Uniquely, communications apprenticeships combine paid employment with formal training, immersing apprentices in good practices and mentoring/coaching so they gain the key knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) necessary to be a successful communications professional.

The current offer is:

• PR & Communications Assistant apprenticeship (level 4)
• Digital Community Manager apprenticeship (level 4)
• Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability apprenticeship (level 4) (from 2026)
• Communications Manager apprenticeship (level 6) (from 2026)

How apprenticeships work

Apprentices are payrolled employees and are treated as other staff. 
15-18 month courses comprise a series of small group seminars, 1-2-1 expert and pastoral support followed by a formal assessment by an independent body. 

“I love that when I’m in JGA seminars, I’m often able to relate what I’m learning to what I’ve already done at work and vice versa. I already feel like I’ve learnt so much not only in relation to PR and communications, but also the corporate world and working within such a large organisation.”

Janet Oyedemi, former Level 4 PR & Communications apprentice, Walt Disney Company

Training is supported by regular mini projects which enable apprentices to apply their newly learned knowledge and skills in the workplace, generate value for the employer and work product for the assessment.
PR and communication apprenticeships work especially well for people who have non-public relations degrees and for those without university education. 
Passing results in a recognised qualification at either a first year university or bachelor degree level.
Importantly, communications apprentices receive two years of free CIPR student membership.
 

Benefits for Employers

Communications apprenticeships are led by active professionals. 

The course builds a bridge from employer to Millennial and GenZ juniors, settling them into workplace culture and enabling the professionalisation of staff with a broader range of backgrounds and previous experiences. They are not just for juniors who missed out on university, communications apprenticeships are often used to integrate new graduates into the workplace or to support the development of new comms managers.

“The 360-degree wrap-around plan meant that my learning was structured around me, rather than the other way around. My Skills Coach helped me apply my learning to real projects, my Tutor made sure I understood the theory, and my LPA was always there to guide my progress.”
Jude Aston, Former Level 4 PR and Communications Apprentice, City of Wolverhampton Council

Those with social value imperatives, especially from public sector clients, find apprenticeships are a way to score well on tenders and fulfil commitments.
 

Costs

Employers can save: no Employer NI contributions are due on the salaries of newly recruited apprentices aged under 25. If you are recruiting a junior member of staff then, to reflect the fact that new apprentices are still developing their competences, salary levels may have greater flexibility than for non-apprentices.
Large companies pay a special levy which the HR team can access to pay for apprenticeship training. It is a ‘use it or lose it’ situation, so HR teams are often enthusiastic to cater for the needs of functional teams.
For smaller organisations the government subsidises 95% of the training costs and it is often possible to arrange for the subsidy to be topped up through ‘levy transfer’ so that the cost is zero.

About the JGA Group

Judged outstanding by Ofsted, we are a family business founded more than 30 years ago which provides communications apprenticeships to some of Britain’s top brands including The Walt Disney Company, Lego, DRPG, Weber Shandwick, Cancer Research, NHS and the UK Parliament. 
 

Find out more

Whether you are an employer looking to invest in your team or a potential apprentice ready to develop your career in communications, contact the CIPR directly.