OnDemand: The National Apprenticeships Conference 2026
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2026 Overview
The UK Government’s £275m Modern Industrial Strategy (June 2025) puts skills and apprenticeships at the heart of an ambitious national reset, addressing declining participation and youth disengagement. The National Apprenticeships Conference 2026 offers practical insights for organisations, learners, and the workforce and focuses on growth sectors, shorter programmes, and flexible levy use.
In January 2026 leading voices from government, industry, education and training came together to explore:
- The evolving policy and funding landscape including the rollout of Foundation Apprenticeships and changes to adult Level 7 provision.
- Innovative employer-provider partnerships that are boosting apprentice success, retention and progression.
- How to future-proof programmes in a changing economy aligning provision with the Industrial Strategy growth-driving sectors (the ‘ IS-8 ‘ sectors) and employer demand.
- Strategies for widening participation and levelling up opportunity through inclusive and accessible apprenticeships.
- The digital transformation of apprenticeship delivery, from AI-enabled learning to new models of assessment.
- What’s next for apprenticeship reform and how stakeholders can shape the future of skills in the UK.
Whether you’re a college, university, employer, training provider or sector leader, this On Demand conference offers a vital opportunity to understand and respond to the latest policy developments and upcoming changes shaping the future of apprenticeships.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Becky Quew-Jones, Learning & Teaching Coordinator, University of Portsmouth
Keynote: Apprenticeships: A Catalyst for Social Mobility, Skills Development and Economic Growth
- The pivotal role of apprenticeships in supporting the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, with a focus on levelling up communities, improving productivity, and driving regional economic growth through a highly skilled and future-ready workforce.
- Insights into recent policy developments, including streamlined funding mechanisms, enhanced flexibility for SMEs, the expansion of higher and degree-level apprenticeships and strengthened partnerships between employers and training providers.
- Aligning apprenticeship provision with emerging sectors and the UK’s evolving skills needs, improving access to clear and consistent information, advice and guidance and implementing new employer-led standards to ensure apprenticeships meet the demands of a dynamic, modern economy
Sharon Weetman, Head of Youth Employment & Apprenticeships, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Keynote: EPA Reform and the Future of Apprenticeship Assessment
- Examining the reform of EPA’s and how the new apprenticeship assessment model will work in practice
- Outlining the implications of reform for providers, employers, and assessment organisations, including delivery, funding and quality assurance changes
- Exploring how assessment responsibilities and regulatory oversight will evolve under the new framework
- Gain practical insights on how the sector can prepare for and influence the transition to the reformed system.
Simon Ashworth, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy, The Association of Employment and Learning Providers
Questions and Answers
Case Study: Forging Work-Ready Apprentices: How Experiential Challenge Builds Skills That Last a Career
- Learning how confidence, communication and resilience gaps derail new starters and how simple challenge-based learning closes them fast
- Delegates leave with 5 zero-cost experiential micro-activities, reflection templates and a proven model to embed behavioural skills into existing programmes
- Real case studies from Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, VW and Sellafield showing improvements in retention, engagement, teamwork and workplace readiness
- Clear mapping to behavioural standards, EDI, productivity, and employer expectations – helping providers and employers future-proof their programmes
Mike Hamilton OBE, Director of Education, The Outward Bound Trust
Driving Inclusion in Apprenticeships: Widening Participation Among Underrepresented Groups
- Exploring the powerful role of apprenticeships in driving social mobility through skills development and access to rewarding long-term career pathways.
- Understanding the systemic and structural barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from accessing and completing apprenticeships, including socioeconomic, educational and cultural factors.
- Highlighting the strategies and interventions that can remove barriers and widen participation, from inclusive recruitment practices to targeted outreach and support systems.
Pete Milsom, Partnerships Manager, UCAS
Questions and Answers
Keynote: EPA Reform: Preparing for the New Apprenticeship Assessment Framework
- Exploring DfE’s plans to reform apprenticeship assessment. The reforms will move away from prescriptive end-point assessments to a more flexible model that allows for assessment during the apprenticeship, allows flexibility in the delivery of that assessment, and intends to remove duplication
- Learn how synoptic components will test broad skills and knowledge across the apprenticeship, with guidance suggesting they form a substantial portion of overall assessment
- Hear how awarding organisations will lead assessment strategy and delivery, with Ofqual regulating the process to maintain integrity and align with occupational standards
Daniel Green, Policy Director, Federation of Awarding Bodies
Case Study: Closing the Skills Gap Through Accessible Apprenticeships
- Exploring how UKAEA’s apprenticeship pathways are widening access to careers in the nuclear and fusion sectors
- Highlighting the role of Level 2 training in addressing critical skills shortages across nuclear operations and safety
- Discussing UKAEA and MTC’s approach as a practical case study in building sector-ready talent
- Demonstrating how accessible, early-stage apprenticeships can support new entrants into specialised nuclear roles
Steph Wood, Programme Manager, UK Atomic Energy Authority
Questions and Answers
Case Study: Rebalancing Higher Apprenticeships: Funding, Access and the Future of Degree-Level Training
- Explore the impact of restricting public funding for master’s-level apprenticeships to those aged 21 and under, and what it means for employers and workforce development.
- Understand the new employer responsibilities for funding older learners on level 7 programmes and the implications for workforce planning and staff retention.
- Examine the continued growth of health, digital, and business-related apprenticeships at degree level, and how subject popularity is shifting in response to labour market needs.
- Get up to date on the transition from the Apprenticeship Levy to the Growth and Skills Levy, and what this means for funding flexibility, employer engagement, and system reform.
Tanya Baney, Head of Apprenticeships, University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education
Case Study: Practical Strategies to Improve Apprentice Retention, Success and Progression
- Explore how best to support apprentices before, during and after their programmes to increase the chances of long-term success.
- Understand the most common apprentice drop-out points and what employers and providers can do to intervene early.
- Discover how structured pre-apprenticeship programmes can widen access, improve readiness, and set apprentices up for long-term success.
Lindsay Conroy, CEO, Association of Apprentices
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Becky Quew-Jones, Learning & Teaching Coordinator, University of Portsmouth
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2026 Speakers
Sharon Weetman
Head of Youth Employment & Apprenticeships
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Simon Ashworth
Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers
Pete Milsom
Partnerships Manager
UCAS
Dr Becky Quew-Jones
Learning & Teaching Coordinator
University of Portsmouth
Daniel Green
Policy Director
Federation of Awarding Bodies
Mike Hamilton OBE
Director of Education
The Outward Bound Trust
Tanya Baney
Head of Apprenticeships
University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education
Lindsay Conroy
CEO
Association of Apprentices
Testimonials
The National Apprenticeship Conference is excellent to attend if you need an update on apprenticeship provision. The guest speakers were knowledgeable and offered good insights into apprenticeship provision. There were ideas and information for links to resources that are valuable and useful.
A well organised and highly informative event that gave me a wealth of ideas to take back into daily business practice. Thank you.
