Degree Apprenticeships

Social research helps us to understand public opinion, attitudes and behaviour. It uses tried and tested methods, such as interviews, surveys and focus groups, as well as new approaches such as social media analysis and AI. It provides evidence for government, public bodies, charities and other organisations to develop policies and make decisions. Social research is used to make sure that the government spends money wisely and that society benefits.

In short, being a social researcher is about being an explorer in the land of people, studying how humans live, think, and interact. It is a fulfilling career – days are varied, the work is important, and people are passionate about what they do.

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About the job

Verian is one of the leading social research agencies in the UK. We have over 150 specialist researchers and are based in a fabulous, open plan office in Westminster, London, opposite the Houses of Parliament.

That means we are in the heart of government, close to where our data is used to shape policy and decisions. It makes it easy for us to have collaborative face-to-face meetings with our clients and is a great place to come to work.

Our work hits the headlines and helps shape government policy. We run projects like the Crime Survey of England and Wales, interviewing over 30,000 people each year about their experiences as victims of crime, on behalf of the Home Office. 

Our team helps government and public bodies understand the impact of their communications. This includes the NHS posters you see that encourage people to eat healthily and the Transport for London posters you see on the Underground reminding you to ‘mind the gap’. 

We also develop and evaluate government policy. For example, our evaluation of the Tampon Tax Fund assessed how the government used the money from tax on sanitary products to fund projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. 

We lead the data collection for the Understanding Society survey, which follows people over a long period of time, helping us understand how life in the UK is changing and what stays the same over many years. Click here to find out more.

Your day-to-day role

As an apprentice 80% of your time will be spent in work, with 20% studying. While you’re at work, you will be part of a team working on research projects that make a difference in the world. 

Your role will be research and project coordination. This will include supporting the day-to-day running of projects, doing project management and conducting quantitative and qualitative research, including supporting the creation of interview guides and questionnaires, doing interviews and focus groups, running surveys, analysing data and writing and presenting findings. 

You will have extensive support in the workplace with a dedicated line manager and development plan to support your degree learning. You will be working with a fun and friendly group of people who will help you to grow your skills and meet your goals.

You will be part of a group of 2-4 social research apprentices in Verian, learning together and supporting each other. You will also have the chance to meet apprentices from other organisations who are studying the same degree, as part of your learning with the University of Kent.

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About the degree

Over the course of 4 years, you will study the Level 6 applied social research standard, leading to a BSc honours degree with The University of Kent. 

About your BSc research degree: 

• This is the UK’s first ever bespoke applied social research undergraduate degree apprenticeship. You will develop transferable and applied knowledge, skills and behaviours that will set you up for a long career in modern social research. The course will cover a broad range of quantitative and qualitative social research methods and skills, alongside how they can be applied to bring about real-world change and help government and organisations make better decisions.
• This includes, but is not limited to: how to collect and use data for analysis in a range of different social contexts; how to design impactful research projects that could inform some of society’s most pressing questions; how to make use of modern social research software that will also bring you transferrable skills in coding; and you will have the opportunity to undertake an independent research project in an area of relevant interest to you. 

As part of your degree, your teaching will be largely online with some face-to-face teaching, including an in-person residential week each year at the University of Kent in Canterbury. The course begins in September 2024.

Verian will cover the cost for you to attend in-person teaching when required, from our central London location.  

The application process

The full process is shown below. The application form is here click here to apply.

After the initial application stage, we will invite candidates to an assessment day at our London office. It will include a written exercise and an interview and you will receive a briefing pack in advance explaining what to expect and how to prepare. There will also be the chance to meet the Verian team in person to hear more about life at Verian and what being a social researcher is about.

Successful candidates will be notified by the end of June latest if they have been offered an apprenticeship with Verian. We expect apprentices to start work at Verian in July/August 2024 and to start their degree course in September 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

The degree takes four years to complete and your contract with Verian will be for four years.