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Public relations officer apprenticeships

Creative and media

Public relations officer apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a college course
  • specialist courses run by a professional body


    • University

    Public relations roles are open to graduates of most subjects, though you could study for a more specialist degree or postgraduate award recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Courses include: 

    • Public Relations 
    • Marketing 
    • Communications with PR 
    • Public Relations and Corporate Communications
    You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree. You'll need a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course. 

    College
    There is no set entry route to become a public relations officer but it may be useful to do a relevant subject like a Foundation Certificate in Marketing. You can also study higher level qualifications if you're working in a marketing or communications department. Courses include the Level 3 Certificate in Public Relations and Media Relations. Entry requirements for these courses vary. 

    Apprenticeship
    You can work towards this role by doing a public relations assistant higher apprenticeship. You'll usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-Levels, or equivalent.

    Volunteering

    You'll find it useful to get paid or unpaid experience of working in public relations. You could: 

    • contact PR departments and consultancies for work experience 
    • volunteer to promote local charities
    • write for student magazines, newspapers, blogs or social media
    • work on student or volunteer radio services
    Other Routes
    You can do professional qualifications through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. These can be done online or at a training centre. Courses include: 

    • a Foundation Certificate for beginners 
    • a Professional PR Certificate, if you're a graduate or have 2 years' experience in PR 

    Public relations officer apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • knowledge of media production and communication 
    • knowledge of English language
    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
    • excellent verbal communication skills
    • persistence and determination
    • the ability to work well with others
    • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure 
    • the ability to use your initiative 
    • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

    Public relations officer apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    In this role you could: 

    • plan PR campaigns and strategies based on research 
    • monitor and react to the public and media's opinion of your client or employer 
    • write and edit press releases, speeches, newsletters, leaflets, brochures and websites 
    • create content on social media and respond quickly to user comments
    • arrange and attend events like press launches, news conferences, exhibitions and open days 
    • develop good working relationships with the media to promote your clients 
    • arrange photoshoots and production of promotional videos 
    • speak on behalf of clients at presentations, conferences or radio and TV interviews
    Working environment
    You could work in an office.

    Career path and progression - Public relations officer apprenticeships

    With in-house PR officer experience, you could be promoted to PR manager, social media manager or head of communications. With agency experience, you could progress to senior account executive or account manager. You could go freelance or move into advertising, marketing or journalism.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

    Start searching for Apprenticeships Near You

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