Develop your skills, confidence, and work experience in a relaxed, supportive environment, at your own pace and suited to your ability. Applications closing on the 24th of August.
Our six-month paid pre-apprenticeship placements are designed for young people ages 16-25 who may not yet feel ready to move into employment or an apprenticeship and would benefit from extra support to get there. Throughout your placement, you will gradually build your skills, confidence, and independence as you take on more responsibilities within your chosen role.
You'll receive regular one-to-one mentoring and support to complete a personalised learning portfolio, helping you prepare for the next step in your journey.
While the placement does not lead to a formal qualification, you will:
- Be paid for your work: £8.50 an hour (above the National Minimum Wage for apprentices)
- gain accredited certificates and valuable workplace experience.
- receive personalised mentoring and support throughout your placement.
- complete the programme without formal assessments or exams.
Available roles
There are three paid pre-apprenticeship roles available, all based at the Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row:
- Kitchen Assistant: Prepare and cook food alongside our experienced kitchen team
- Café Server: Serve customers, prepare drinks, and provide excellent customer service in our Coffee Saints café
- Woodwork Assistant: Build, repair, and restore wooden products and furniture alongside our workshop team.
You are welcome to apply for more than one role. Applying for multiple roles will not reduce your chances of being offered a placement.
Previous experience and skills
You do not need any previous experience to apply for one of our pre-apprenticeship roles. Our placements are designed to be completely entry-level, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills and confidence in a supportive environment, at a pace that works for you.
Instead, we are looking for people who:
- Want to contribute to our welcoming, supportive, and inclusive community
- are punctual, reliable, and able to commit to the full six-month placement, working 16 hours each week
- are motivated to learn, develop new skills, and grow in their role
- are ideally not in full-time education or employment, allowing us to prioritise those who would benefit most from this opportunity. However, we still encourage you to apply if this doesn't apply to you.
How to apply
Fill in the form in the link at the bottom of the page; alternatively, contact Rob Stack at robert@grassmarket.org if you wish to apply in a different format.
You do not need to submit a CV or personal statement. Instead, we'll ask you to tell us a little about yourself, including:
- Your work or education experience (no matter how much or how little you have)
- your interests, hobbies, skills, and personal qualities
- why you're interested in the pre-apprenticeship and how you think it will help you develop for the future
Closing date: 24th of August 2026.