As Chair of Skills England, I’m delighted to introduce the Apprenticeship Guide 2026–27 – Paul Smith.
I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce this year’s Apprenticeship Guide, which does an excellent job of setting out the huge benefits of earning while learning.
If you’re reading this then you have obviously already taken an interest in either recruiting an apprentice or taking one yourself. I want to take this opportunity to say that your instincts are right. The figures speak for themselves, with satisfaction rates among businesses and apprentices well over 80%.
Businesses of all sizes see huge benefits. Skilled staff are of course more productive – the estimated yearly gain for businesses can be as much as £18,000 per apprentice. You also get the opportunity to embed people into your company culture as they learn, which fosters a lot of loyalty. I saw first-hand, when I was running Cisco UK and Ireland, how investing in talent sparks enthusiasm and brings in lots of new ideas.
The Government has listened to employers and is making apprenticeships more flexible and accessible for them. This includes reducing the minimum duration to eight months where appropriate, reforming assessment, and adapting English and maths requirements.
Apprentices earn a wage while learning industry-endorsed skills – both in the workplace and with a college, independent training provider, or university. 86% of those surveyed said they were satisfied with their apprenticeships and 88% felt their career prospects had improved since starting.
Having said that, young people haven’t been reaping the benefits anywhere near enough. We’re determined to redress a 40% decline in starts among people aged under 25 over the past decade. That’s why foundation apprenticeships have been introduced to give young people a route into careers with sectors including construction, health and social care, hospitality, and retail.
Skills England is helping to make apprenticeships more responsive than ever to the needs of a modern economy for key sectors across the country. Over the past year, this has included supporting the rollout of new programmes such as the Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner apprenticeship, alongside flexible apprenticeship units focused on AI leadership and strategy.
With hundreds of apprenticeships now available in total, all the way up to degree-level, there has never been a better time to check out what they could offer you.
This guide provides practical guidance and information for employers, parents, carers, learners and their teachers on every apprenticeship available in England, including progression routes and salaries. It’s a doorway to a vast array of life changing and business boosting opportunities and I wish you every success on your apprenticeship journeys.
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