A positive start
2025 is looking encouraging for apprenticeship providers, with new starts, participation and achievement all up on the previous year (August-October). Higher apprenticeships continue to grow, with starts having increased by 8.1%, while degree apprenticeships are proving ever-popular – starts are 10% higher compared to last year.
At the same time, the number of learners with additional needs has risen by nearly 4%, and the number of learners from ethnic minorities has grown by almost 8%. These figures suggest that apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly attractive choice across diverse areas of society.
Lifelong learning
While apprenticeships are highly successful at equipping school leavers with skills for life, they also offer invaluable opportunities for post-19 learners and those in full time work. There is no upper age limit to starting an apprenticeship, and, with skills gaps in specific areas across UK industry, they are now being widely utilised to upskill existing staff. Of the 132,500 new starts in academic year 2024/2025 (August-October), two-thirds are made up of learners over the age of 19.
What are the benefits of an apprenticeship?
There are numerous benefits of apprenticeships, including:
- Upskilling for full time employees: A wide range of businesses, from SMEs to large corporations encourage apprenticeships to upskill their existing staff, filling skills gaps, and providing pathways for progression.
- Reducing attrition: With opportunities to learn on the job, employees are given a greater sense of purpose, the satisfaction of learning new skills (at any stage of life), and a better sense of connection and progression within the company. This all means lower rates of attrition – a benefit to business and the wider economy.
- Local skills: By partnering with local companies, apprenticeships can help fulfil local needs for jobs, boosting the local economy, and reducing the need for long hours spent commuting.
- Improved pay: Completing an apprenticeship gives the learner a significant advantage when it comes to promotion and associated pay.
- No tuition fees: Apprenticeships are free from any kind of tuition fee. In fact, apprentices of all ages are paid for the duration of their chosen course.
- Guided support: Every learner is fully supported throughout their course, with additional support provided for those with learning difficulties/disabilities.
- Bettering society: By choosing one of the many ‘green’ focused apprenticeships now on offer, learners can support their individual and company-wide ESG goals for a more sustainable future.
Looking forwards
The number of apprenticeship starts is expected to continue rising this year, creating new opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds. With the establishment of Skills England, we expect to see additional programmes designed to address critical skills gaps across various sectors, including construction, social work, and renewable energy. This expansion should help equip the workforce with the skills needed for a greener and more resilient future.
Celebrating apprentices – National Apprenticeship Week
At OneAdvanced, we have over 30 years of experience in partnering with colleges, universities and businesses, supporting over 2m learners with our tailor-made software solutions. In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, our dedicated page contains a wealth of useful resources to support training providers, colleges and enterprises through their apprenticeship journey.
