APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
Public Relations and Communications Apprenticeships: Level 4
Learn from communications experts and build essential practical multimedia skills when you train with Press Association Academy.
Boost your team with a Public Relations & Communications Assistant apprentice who benefits from training from the UK and Ireland's National News Agency. Whether it's writing a press release, launching a podcast, making social video, or planning and measuring the impact of a campaign, we help PR & Comms apprentices build practical skills quickly with weekly training.
As they complete their training modules over 12 months, apprentices also build a portfolio of work that helps them embed learning and grow in confidence. They then go on to complete their End Point Assessment – a substantial project that showcases the knowledge, skills and behaviour they've built, and helps launch the next stage of their career.
Read more about the Level 4 PR & Communications Apprentice standard at the Institute for Apprenticeships.
If you're an employer considering hiring a Public Relations & Communications Assistant apprentice, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to talk to you about the benefits to your business and to your apprentice, and can talk you through the practicals. We deliver training remotely and in-person.
If you are looking for other media industry apprenticeships, you may wish to consider our Level 3 Content Creator or Level 5 Journalist apprenticeship training. Alternatively, for team training, we offer a range of bespoke PR & Comms short courses.
Howard Smith, Programme Leader for the L4 Public Relations and Communications Assistant apprenticeship at the Press Association Academy says: "Our course will help your apprentices become confident, creative communications professionals.
"Whether it's supporting someone at the start of their career or growing talent, our experienced tutors will develop apprentices' skills and knowledge.
"They will learn how to deal with the media, the public, colleagues and other important stakeholders. They will understand the importance of building reputation to influence opinions and behaviours. They will learn how to write high-quality content and how to build and evaluate effective campaigns.
"They will become a great addition to your organisation.
Details about our Apprenticeship
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WHAT APPRENTICES LEARN
Practical training sees apprentices make swift progress and build skills Apprentices join us once a week for workshops and assignments The curriculum focuses on building essential skills and applying them effectively Individual feedback ensures apprentices remain on course and engaged Apprentices, line managers and tutors meet every three months to discuss progress
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INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS
We work with employers based across the UK We start two open cohorts of L5 PRCA apprentices each year in March and October If you have more than 12 apprentices, talk to us about a bespoke cohort We can support you through the apprentice process if you're new to it Our apprentices go on to achieve awards and promotions
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INFORMATION FOR APPRENTICES
Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to learn while you earn, making media careers more accessible You don't need PR or comms qualifications – but you should be interested in the media You cannot apply for an apprenticeship with the Press Association Academy directly Instead, visit Find an Apprenticeship and search for PR opportunities You can also check the websites and social media of employers directly
Course Modules
PR foundations – understand the fundamentals of public relations and ways of communicating with different audiences
Writing great content – develop your skills to write effective communications that influence opinions and behaviour
Internal communications – learn how to inform and engage staff in a way that motivates them and helps your organisation meet its goals
Digital and social media – master the skills to engage audiences and get the most out of digital and social media
Strategy and campaigns – be clear about what you want to achieve or avoid when developing a successful PR strategy and campaign
Brand and reputation – build, protect and support a positive reputation for brands, organisations, and individuals
Video and audio – shoot and edit videos, as well as make podcasts
Collaboration, management and leadership – learn to communicate and build relationships with people inside and outside your organisation
Regulation and ethics – understand your legal and ethical responsibilities as well as codes of practice and regulation
Apprenticeship FAQs
Do employers pay for training?
If your organisation pays the Apprenticeship Levy, then you do not need to contribute to training costs for your apprentices in England. If your organisation does not pay the levy, then you will need to contribute 5% of the training costs for your apprentices in England
Can I train apprentices outside England?
Yes, we are happy to work with you on this. You will not however be able to fund them through the Apprentice Levy
How can I apply for an apprenticeship?
Press Association does recruit apprentices who work for the Press Association newsroom. You'll find any vacancies here. But the Press Association Academy is not involved in any apprentice recruitment. We are the training provider, not the employer.
Are you inspected by Ofsted?
Yes, we were last inspected in September 2023 and awarded 'Good' in all areas. You can read the report here, or search the register under our former legal name, The Press Association Ltd
What our students say
My time at PA Training was a whirlwind of fun and excitement. The full-time NCTJ course in London is fast-paced and hard work but perfectly sets you up for what to expect in a reporter role.
Being equipped with an NCTJ Diploma does massive favours for your future, and the skills the course taught me are ones I lean on every single day. The simple fact is, I wouldn’t be where I am without that course.
It’s a great place to make connections – networking with teachers, guest speakers and fellow students can be key to gaining advice or even job opportunities during and after the course.
I was able to count on excellent teachers and professionals who helped me push my limits and achieve my goals. I was impressed by the quality of the course and the motivation teachers put into it. It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again!
The team is flexible, slick, well-resourced and overall simply first class. Their expertise and knowledge have been invaluable. I was delighted with our choice, so I’d have no hesitation in recommending them
The teaching I received was second to none and despite having no experience whatsoever in journalism, the tutors made sure there was a friendly environment where I felt welcome to ask any questions I needed. I was able to finish the course and go into a job working for The Sun.
Not only did I develop the necessary toolkit to become a journalist, but I also did so in an environment that fosters a real sense of community and personal career support.
I honestly thought that the whole day was fabulous!!! You really couldn’t have done anymore for us. The combination of practical exercises and feedback was particularly useful, it was a challenging day (in a very good way) in that we really had to think, learn and adapt quickly. I know the team are significantly better prepared for media interviews after this training.
I made amazing friends, amazing memories and now it has led me to an amazing job which I never would have gotten without my time at Press Association.
The training scenarios are as real to life as you could possibly get. They took considerable time to research our current plans and issues and used these to design a series of true to life radio and TV interviews. The team is outstanding, and their expertise and knowledge has been invaluable. Book them – you’ll be glad you did.
The lifelike interview settings and tasks that PA Media Training deal in replicate perfectly the real-world feel of a tough media interview and help the delegates come out of the day feeling much more confident that they can play an active role in representing their organisation.
I learned to write concise articles and features, while developing my skills in social media, interviewing sources, and producing stories for an increasingly online audience. The course has allowed me to start a full-time journalism career.
PA Media Training were efficient, well organised and genuinely lovely people to deal with and, importantly for us, able to provide flexibility around our needs to create the bespoke training we required. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them for further training or to recommend them to other organisations.
What a great session we had on Communicating with Impact. Bridgid shared practical techniques to enhance and develop our communications skills so we can present and speak publicly or to senior stakeholders with confidence and impact. I speak for my whole team in highly recommending Bridgid Nzekwu if you are after effective and fun communication training.
The staff truly go above and beyond, providing detailed feedback, a wealth of knowledge and many career opportunities. I’d recommend the course to any budding journalist. You’ll have fun, too!
The small class sizes nurture a comfortable environment where everyone supports and learns from each other. The staff helped me hone in on my writing skills and develop the confidence to feel comfortable on camera.
The methods and techniques you learn (and apply) on a daily basis through teaching, coursework and eventually exams crop up again and again in both job applications and jobs themselves – the course content is directly relevant to the realities of the industry.
I really could not recommend Press Association enough to anyone who is looking to jump into the fascinating world of journalism. The course equips you with all the necessary skills you need to enter the industry and the wide range of topics covered leaves it hard for you to ever feel bored.
Interested in this course?
Talk to the Press Association Academy team about dates, fees and bespoke options.