ABSTRACT Since 2018, new UK academics can enrol on a postgraduate Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APP) to become accredited higher education professionals. This new apprenticeship replaces or runs alongside traditional newer academic programmes such as Postgraduate Certificates of Academic Practice (PCAP). We share findings from a programme evaluation at one of the first adopters of the APP which explored the experiences of course participants and those supporting them. With 35 interview or focus group participants, findings show how the apprenticeship element adds more development and support opportunities for both, the apprentices and experienced academics supporting them. However, challenges around protecting time for development and balancing workload remained and there were challenges associated with the concept of being an apprentice. We also found some changes to the programme curriculum as a result of mapping it to the apprenticeship standard.