PR and Communications Apprenticeship (Level 4) - Met Office

The Met Office is delighted to open our advertising for Apprenticeships 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Met Office as a PR and Communications Apprentice for up to 16 months commencing at the start of September 2026. You will develop skills and workplace experience in this occupation which may lead to a permanent position on successful completion of your apprenticeship or the knowledge to gain employment within the wider industry.

As our PR and Communications Apprentice, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work. As apprentices are part of our Early Careers Programme, there is the expectation you attend the office once a week as a minimum in addition to your study day. Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we will do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

Your world of expertise

This apprenticeship can offer you the support, training and industry recognised qualifications to get you on the path to a career in PR and Communications. You will join the Met Office's busy Communications team and sit within the Media and Campaigns team which comprises both Campaigns & Press Office functions. The Media and Campaigns team works on proactive campaign planning and delivery, ad hoc communications activities, social media and content creation, as well as media liaison and PR projects. You will have the opportunity to work with teams across Communications including Design and Content, Strategy and Planning, and Internal Communications. The team regularly welcomes early careers communicators to join us and has a strong learning and development-focused ethos. We will learn from you as much as you will learn from us. You will be a key member of the team and will have the chance to try your hand at many different tasks which will support your formal learning. Your line manager is experienced at supporting apprentices throughout their apprenticeships and previous apprentices have successfully become permanent team members.

Training delivery and support

We would look for you to join us in September 2026 with your apprenticeship training beginning shortly afterwards. You will be managed by a line manager and have a mentor to offer further support. You will have on the job training and in house development opportunities during your apprenticeship. You will have 1 day per week dedicated to your 20% off the job training with the training provider, JGA. They will deliver the off the job training in an online style. The 16-month long apprenticeship will be broken into five parts starting with introductory foundational learning that covers the basics of public relations and communications. This is followed by three modules of three months each that focus on 1) Internal & External Media, 2) Digital Media and 3) Written Communications. Finally you will work on a written project and presentation for your End Point Assessment. Throughout, you will have a tutor delivering 1 to 1 skills coaching on a regular basis as well as a series of round tables with a small group of other students to further your knowledge and give you a chance to ask questions. You will also have regular review meetings with your line manager at a frequency that suits you both. As well as the taught content, there will be a large amount of self-study, regular assignments, and an end-point assessment period. You must be committed to your own development and training as this element forms a significant aspect of a modern apprenticeship.

Your key duties:

• Producing communications plans, utilising GCS tools and industry best practice.
• Creating written content, such as blogs or social media content tailored to different audiences.
• Using research techniques to gather and analyse audience and market information.
• Using IT tools to effectively support communications activity and campaigns.
• Working closely with the Press Office to support PR activities.
• Forming part of the team managing social media activity on a daily basis.
• Measuring and providing analysis of communications activities.
• Using creativity and initiative in developing ideas, identifying opportunities and overcoming challenges.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their 'Best Workplaces in Tech' 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list. As our PR and Communications Apprentice Level 4, your starting salary will be £24,310 and you will have the opportunity to progress to £25,740 over time. Your total reward package is potentially worth up to £34,675 annually, which includes basic salary, potential corporate bonus and employer pension contributions.

We also offer:

• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave
• Access to discounted shopping, inclusive of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

• Demonstrate an interest in PR and Communications and an enthusiasm to learn.
• Work effectively as part of a team and show a willingness to be flexible, proactive and help others.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal, written, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Be organised and creative and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with strong attention to detail and awareness of deadlines.
• Have an understanding of digital and social media platforms including variations in content and target audiences.

In addition to the criteria listed above, you must also be eligible to qualify for apprenticeship funding by meeting the following:

• Not be enrolled on another funded apprenticeship or another funded further education or higher education programme at the time you start this apprenticeship.
• Are applying for an apprenticeship that is unrelated to any qualifications you already hold at the same or higher level than this apprenticeship.
• Are living in England at the time the apprenticeship commences.

Please note: suitability and eligibility will also need to be verified by the training provider.

How to apply

If you share our values, we would love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history (this could include voluntary or work experience roles) and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria.