National Apprenticeship week 2026: Apprenticeship, university, or both?

Hi! I’m Serena. I’ve been First Internet’s resident social media apprentice for just over six months. To mark the beginning of National Apprenticeship Week 2026,  here’s my take on the apprenticeship vs. university debate, as someone who’s done both!

When I applied to university back in 2021, I never pictured myself doing an apprenticeship five years later.

But here I am – and I’m loving it.

I took a ‘non-traditional’ route into an apprenticeship, studying History and Politics at university, then becoming a fully qualified journalist before I even considered whether an apprenticeship was for me.

When it came to switching my career to marketing, I soon realised that becoming an apprentice was the best way to learn everything I needed to know.

Deciding which route to take can be difficult, so here’s my honest advice, as someone who has done both.

University vs Apprenticeships: the benefits

Going to university is a sure-fire way to develop your…

• Confidence
• Independence
• Time management skills (especially important as a social media executive!)
• Research skills
• Critical thinking (again, super important in the world of digital marketing)

But apprenticeships can give you…

• First-hand experience in the world of work – something employers are always on the lookout for
• Financial freedom – earning a salary as you study can make apprenticeships much more accessible (and not having to worry about tuition fees is a huge benefit)
• A direct route into a specific industry – you’ll have practical experience and strong industry contacts from day one, something that is super hard to gain through a degree alone

Experience is key: Employers are changing what they look for

In 2025, over 36% of the UK’s 18-year olds opted into higher education, compared to just under 25% in 2006. With more and more young people gaining undergraduate degrees, genuine real-world experience has never been so important. When I graduated, it’s something I really felt was missing from my uni experience.

Practical work experience can make all the difference when it comes to entering the world of work. It’s vital if you want to get into marketing, especially in an agency like First Internet, where building strong client relationships and open communication is super important.

How has my apprenticeship helped me?

While moving to a different part of the country at 18 definitely re-wired my brain, many of the practical skills I’ve developed didn’t come from a book written in the last century (who would have thought)!

From day one at First Internet, I was given real responsibilities – and real opportunities to learn. Within the first six months, I’d built up the knowledge to create data-led social strategies and lead client meetings.

I’ve learned how to use industry-grade software to edit videos, create scroll-stopping visuals and craft compelling copy that actually boosts engagement with help from industry experts, both at First Internet and through my apprenticeship training at The Juice Academy.

One of the biggest learning curves I’ve navigated has been managing clients day-to-day, making sure everything I create 100% reflects their brand (something that’s very important to us at FI). I’ve learned to think outside the box when it comes to making communication easier for them – whether that looks like using WhatsApp voice messages, or communicating through collaborative content plans in Notion. 

Being a part of such a dynamic, supportive team has helped me develop the ability to understand a wide range of people, how they work, and how to work alongside them. It’s these nuances that you simply wouldn’t get by writing essays alone in your room.

Apprenticeship or university? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer

Personally, I’m proud of my squiggly career path. University taught me a lot of valuable lessons. But, when it comes to the day-to-day skills I use as a social media executive, I have my apprenticeship to thank.

My advice? If you’re deciding which option is best for you, make sure you weigh up the pros and cons as carefully as possible. There’s no shame in deciding to do an apprenticeship instead of going to uni. It just depends on which skills you’d like to develop, and how you’d like your career to progress!

And, if you’re feeling stuck after graduating like I was, don’t let worries about starting an apprenticeship after university, or concerns that you’re “too old” hold you back. There’s no such thing as the wrong time or wrong age! Take a chance on an apprenticeship – you might just find it’s the perfect way to boost your skills after uni.