Degree apprenticeships are opening doors beyond traditional university

Maisie Green

Analyst, Financial Services Degree Apprenticeship, JP Morgan

With an apprenticeship, you can get fundamental training and practical experience while also getting your degree and coming out with money and savings.

For many school leavers, securing a place at university is often seen as the natural first step in a successful working career. However, options such as degree apprenticeships are proving that diverse career pathways can still equal success.

Choosing an apprenticeship over university

Maisie Green, Analyst on JPMorgan’s Financial Services Degree Apprenticeship at JPMorgan, is proof that a non-traditional pathway can deliver far more than just a foot in the door. “I read a lot about my options when it came to making a decision about my career and was offered places at both university and through apprenticeship schemes,” she says. Choosing the latter, she explains how this decision has shaped both her career and her personal development.

“In my day-to-day alongside my degree apprenticeship, I am building essential soft skills, like confidence and resilience,” explains Green. “At 22 years old, I am co-hosting client meetings with hedge fund managers. You would never get that kind of exposure at university.”

The apprenticeship programme allows
students to combine real-world
experience with academic study, including
a rich social and community experience.

Learning by doing the job

Each year, around 50 new apprentices join the JPMorgan apprenticeship scheme, earning an undergraduate degree whilst actively working in a financial role, combining on-the-job training with weekly academic study. By broadening access to a highly sought-after career in this way, the firm is diversifying its teams, making them stronger and more resilient.

“You get comfortable being uncomfortable, which drives your confidence to do things you may never have thought you could do,” says Green. “You have to prioritise your time well, and the role can come with sacrifices, but you are making those sacrifices for your future.”

Working with industry experts, on-hand mentorship and support, formal training and strong pathways to full-time employment and career progression are just some of the many benefits of studying this way. “One of the key advantages of the programme is the qualifications; you gain highly regarded, industry-relevant accreditations that would be extremely expensive if you pursued them individually, but they’re all included as part of the apprenticeship.”

Real-world experience with academic study

The apprenticeship programme allows students to combine real-world experience with academic study, including a rich social and community experience. “JPMorgan has around 50 sports teams across London and hosts socials and charity days. An apprenticeship provides all of the things a university offers, which people may not be aware of,” says Green.

“I’m involved in netball teams and weekend tournaments. This year, we’ve even been to both Portugal and Dubai. It’s about developing skills beyond work, managing people and building a wider network — one you can take with you throughout your whole career.”

The challenges and trade-offs

Apprenticeships are by no means an easy option, but they can be a more accessible one. “The graduate scheme is extremely competitive, taking applicants from across the EU,” explains Green. “Applying through the apprenticeship scheme straight from school means you bypass those more academically grounded, high-achieving applicants, and you can earn while you learn.”

Making the smart financial decision to earn while you learn is fitting for a financial analyst apprentice. They can leave at the end of the four years with no debt and a full network of industry peers and strong practical skills  — something that can put them ahead of many.

“It’s definitely hard work, but the trade-offs are well worth it for what you can achieve at such a young age,” says Green. “If you broaden your horizons and read up on what’s available, you might be surprised to find you have so many options.”