Social Research Apprenticeship
Social Research Apprenticeship in partnership with Kent University offering the chance to start your career in Social Research while studying for a degree.
The Institute
The Institute for Employment Studies is an independent centre for research and consultancy in employment, education and human resources. We work closely with governments, professional bodies and employers, on projects that try to support sustained improvements in public policy and employer practice. The emphasis in all of our work is on applied research and related consultancy. Our values infuse our work. We strive for excellence, to be collaborative, and to bring curiosity to what we do. We work with integrity and treat people respectfully and with compassion. For more information on the work that we do and clients we work with, please explore our website.
The role
The work you’ll do with us will ensure you’re developing the core research skills necessary to become a successful social researcher.
- You’ll learn technical skills such as survey design, qualitative and quantitative analysis, report writing and statistics, as well as building your skills in teamwork, communication, time management and problem solving.
- As you move through your studies and your experience grows, so will your knowledge and responsibilities, starting from quality checking key outputs, providing adhoc support to the team moving to conducting your own analysis and running small projects on your own.
- You’ll learn about all aspects of the research process, the sectors we work in, the work we produce and deliver, our clients and the processes we follow that enable us to generate industry leading research.
What we are looking for
Desired skills and personal qualities
Communication skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Problem solving skills, Presentation skills, Administrative skills, Team working
Qualifications
- GCSE or equivalent English Language (Grade C/Level 4 and above) Essential
- GCSE or equivalent Mathematics (Grade Grade C/ Level 4 or above) Essential
- Other A Levels (Grade 96 UCAS Points) Essential
The training you will be getting
- Social researcher L6 apprenticeship standard
- (BA) Applied Social Research
- Blended learning approach, combining online and face-to-face learning. Apprentices participate in the following off-the-job learning:
Online learning:
- Live real-time online classes
- Online distance learning materials that will typically take 6 hours per week to complete.
Face-to-face learning:
- Block residentials in Canterbury in September of Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4
- 1 day-long face-to-face teaching session per quarter in London (this may be repeated in other locations depending on employer demand).
How to apply
Please apply via the Social Research Apprenticeship .gov website here. To view our full range of benefits, please download the IES benefits guide at the bottom of this page. In addition, please also download and complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and send to careers@employment-studies.co.uk
Working at IES
IES offers a starting salary range between £21,000 and £24,000 depending on experience, qualifications and transferable skills.
We support flexible working and will consider applications from candidates seeking to work flexibly. The post will be based in our office in central Brighton, although we work in a hybrid way.
IES offers a friendly workplace culture and has an active social committee. Brighton and the surrounding areas offer a superb location in which to live with easy access to the sea, countryside, and plenty of culture and nightlife. Brighton is close to Gatwick airport (30 mins), London (1 hour) and France (2.5 hours).
Our research and practice are guided by our values and our staff act in accordance with these. Our values centre on: respecting others, acting with integrity, collaboration, curiosity, excellence and compassion. You can learn more about what it’s like to work at IES by looking at our Glassdoor profile.
IES holds a sponsor licence however, due to recent changes in immigration laws and regulations, we are unable to provide sponsorship for skilled worker visas for this role. Please note that this limitation only applies to visa sponsorship for skilled worker categories. If you currently have the right to work under a different visa category, we encourage you to apply and indicate your immigration status accordingly.
The Institute for Employment Studies is an Investor in People and a registered charity (no. 258390). IES seeks to be an equal opportunities employer.
The Institute for Employment Studies is actively seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all under-represented communities and groups. We are particularly keen to attract candidates from ethnic minority groups given their under-representation within applied social research. We are a Disability Confident Employer and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the individual requirements of candidates with disabilities.
Because of the nature of our work, appointments will be subject to a report from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Disclosure Scotland.
The Institute for Employment Studies encourages career development at all ages. Join us and work for an employer that values your experience. #AgeFriendlyEmployer
We are committed to supporting our staff at every stage of their career. That’s why we have signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge. Find out more about this campaign from the charity Wellbeing of Women.
We have signed up to the #workingwithcancer pledge.
Legal note
The Institute for Employment Studies:
- is a registered charity (no. 258390)
- seeks to be an equal opportunities employer
- is an Investor in People