February 2026 marks the return of National Apprenticeship Week.
Taking place from the 9 to 15 February 2026, National Apprenticeship Week is an initiative to raise awareness of the benefit and impact that apprenticeships can have for both individuals and organisations.
Within Worcestershire, the Worcestershire Apprenticeships hub, an impartial brand to unite the promotion and support for apprenticeships across the community will be delivering a plethora of activity for the week.
Created through a partnership between the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Apprenticeships works with employers, individuals, training providers and schools to promote the apprenticeship pathway.
For employers, apprenticeships are key to business growth and offer a strategic advantage.
Apprenticeships give employers direct access to motivated individuals who are eager to learn and ready to contribute. Businesses can shape talent in‑house, ensuring new employees develop the exact skills, behaviours, and technical capabilities the organisation needs, and following recent announcements, the cost to employers to take on apprentices, particularly those under 25 has reduced as well.
Employers currently pay no Class 1 National Insurance contributions for apprentices under the age of 25 (earning under £50,270), and from April 2026, 100% of the training and assessment costs will be fully funded by the Government for apprentices under the age of 25 within SMEs (non-levy payers) – removing the 5% contribution previously expected.
This means for small and medium organisations who wish to take on an apprentice, under 25, from April 2026 the only cost will be the wages.
Investing in apprentices isn’t just good for people; it’s a smart, strategic move for any organisations looking to thrive.
To find out more about taking on an apprentice in Worcestershire, please contact the Worcestershire Growth Hub team via the details below.
