Human Resources (HR) Apprenticeships
Our apprenticeship programmes have various start dates throughout the year, so be sure to check this page for further opportunities.
About us
At AstraZeneca we believe in the potential of our people and you’ll develop beyond what you thought possible. We make the most of your skills and passion by actively supporting you to see what you can achieve no matter where you start with us.
Working within an Enabling Function such as HR you may not feel you're at the frontline of research but your role in changing patients' lives is critical. Our mission is ambitious and it takes the skills of a collaborative team to really deliver on what science can do and to always put patients first. Here, you'll have various opportunities to broaden your career and with the right skills and passion we'll help you explore what AstraZeneca has to offer.
Find out more about the programme
Within HR we provide the expert advice to our Business Leaders to ensure our working environment across AZ is characterised by respect, integrity and growth opportunities, which encourage both individual contribution and collaborative entrepreneurial thinking.
Our apprenticeship scheme offers a unique opportunity to learn and work in a multi-national company alongside industry experts. Many of our apprentices go on to enjoy full- term positions both in their apprenticeship department and other areas of the business. As well as gaining valuable work experience, you will have the opportunity to study towards a professional qualification, depending on your chosen department.
As a Human Resources Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to gain skills and experience across a range of HR Specialisms. Typically, your apprenticeship will involve rotations into one or more areas and we will tailor your programme to meet your natural strengths, ambitions and areas you to develop.
Specialisms include the following areas (not exhaustive):
- Talent Acquisition
- Employer Branding
- Payroll
- HR Services
- Reward
- Talent & Development
- People Analytics
- Employee Relations
Development opportunities
To fulfil your potential and create a lasting career, we will help you in any way we can, including:
- Reporting to a supportive line manager and personal mentor
- Giving you the chance to network and socialise
- Professional and in-house training schemes and qualifications
- Being a part of a successful team
What we're looking for
- Enthusiastic, self-motivated, driven and ambitious individuals with a passion to learn
- High aspirations and a desire to become part of a world-leading bio-pharmaceutical company
- A passion for HR
- Technology savvy, eager to learn and learns quickly
- Adaptable, flexible and able to work on two or more deliverables in parallel
- Takes responsibility for own self- development. Receptive to feedback and eager to develop.
Watch our video
Meet our people
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Abbi Shepherd - HR Project Portfolio Manager
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Kim Brant - Senior Project Analyst – Talent Acquisition
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Kieran Fanning - HR Advisor
Abbi Shepherd - HR Project Portfolio Manager
Abbi Shepherd - HR Project Portfolio Manager
I joined as an AZ apprentice in 2006 into our Operations function.
I have worked in a series of roles; Project Co-ordinator/Analyst, Deployment Lead & Project Manager, and gained a Business Management degree and formal project management qualifications (PRINCE2 & Agile), together with experience of working in a complex working organisation.
In my current role, I support the Talent Acquisition Leadership team with project management methodology across a broad portfolio of Talent Acquisition projects.
I was given unique business opportunities as an AZ apprentice. The wide variety of roles and courses that I undertook allowed me to build my knowledge, experience and a network of contacts across the business - all of which enabled me to progress my career following the Apprenticeship Programme.
Kim Brant - Senior Project Analyst – Talent Acquisition
Kim Brant - Senior Project Analyst – Talent Acquisition
After joining AZ as an HR Apprentice in 2015, I enjoyed a series of rotations covering Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, HR Services and Talent & Development.
During my rotation into T&D, I was fortunate enough to be part of the award-winning team who created an in-house management development programme which we deployed successfully to over 20,000 employees.
My Apprenticeship has allowed me to fast track my career and my education simultaneously whilst work alongside experts in their field. It has been one of the best decisions of my life by far and I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain practical, on the job experience alongside further education and self-development.
Kieran Fanning - HR Advisor
Kieran Fanning - HR Advisor
I joined AZ as an HR Apprentice in 2015 and have gained a range of experiences during my rotations. This gave me the opportunity to explore which areas of HR I was most interested in and where my strengths lay.
At the end of my apprenticeship, I was successful in securing a permanent role into our new HQ location in Cambridge as part of the award-winning HR Services team.
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