The National Apprenticeships Conference 2025 – New Perspectives, New Opportunities
Past and Present Supporters include:
Overview
Despite recent progress in the jobs market, vacancies in August 2024 remained at 11% above the pre-coronavirus pandemic rates of March 2020 (Office for National Statistics).
With apprenticeships playing a key role in upskilling the workforce, it is essential they are delivered and recruited for effectively to fill roles and meet the skills needs of the country. And yet figures for active participation in apprenticeships for 2023/24 were actually down by 2.3% from 2022/23.
What can colleges, higher education institutes, employers and training providers do to capitalise on the opportunities available to them and support the country’s workforce?
With a new Labour government elected in the UK in July and promising a ‘comprehensive strategy’ for post-16 education in the King’s Speech, there has never been a better time to come together as an industry to get the latest policy updates, practical guidance and best practice from across the UK.
Don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the information you need to overcome barriers you face in apprenticeship delivery and forge valuable connections with others who are tackling the same challenges.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Emily Rock, CEO, Association of Apprentices and Director, The St Martin’s Group (Invited)
Keynote: Outlining Government Strategy for Post-16 Education: Developing a Workforce Fit for the Future
- Identifying areas of particular focus or opportunity within a new strategy for post-16 education
- Examining plans to reform apprenticeship funding: introducing the Growth and Skills Levy
- Striving for an equal and diverse, highly skilled workforce: understanding the ambition and steps to achieving it
- Change under the Skills England Bill: transferring functions from Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to Skills England
Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Education Secretary (Invited)
Keynote: Understanding the New Resources and Rules Around Funding for Apprenticeships
- Bringing together key stakeholders to meet the skills needs of the next decade, across all regions
- Creating sustainable growth through effective partnerships: forging local links and reducing reliance on overseas workers
- Making best use of the Growth and Skills Levy: latest guidance and advice on how to maximise available funding
- Envisaging the apprenticeship landscape of the future
Richard Pennycook, CME, interim Chair, Skills England (Invited)
Key Supporter Session
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Understanding Education Trend Shaping the Market: Identifying Areas of Concern and Opportunity
- Examining the national picture of how learners are choosing to access education
- Identifying areas of inequality and underrepresentation across key sectors
- What do employers and apprenticeship training providers need to be doing to meet the needs of today’s apprentices?
- Keeping an eye on the future: how will the next generation of apprentices best be supported to excel?
Lesley Duff, Director of Research, National Foundation for Educational Research (Invited)
Practical Case Study – Widening Participation: Reaching the Hard to Reach to Improve Social Mobility for All
- Understanding the barriers to accessing apprenticeships for marginalised and disadvantaged communities
- Creating a comprehensive plan to boost engagement
- Considering neurodiversity throughout your apprenticeship planning and delivery
- Working in partnership across education providers and employers to deliver accessible and effective apprenticeships
Nick Harrison, Chief Executive, The Sutton Trust (Invited)
Case Study – An Apprentice-Eye View: What Matters to Me
- Why I chose an apprenticeship and what made this apprenticeship stand out
- What worked well? What should employers and HEIs do more of?
- What could have been improved upon?
- What one thing should employers and apprenticeship providers remember when delivering apprenticeships?
Roury Hinds, Technology & Business Apprenticeship Recruitment Lead, BBC (Invited)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Connecting with Communities to Build Locally-Relevant Apprenticeship Programmes
- Forging partnerships with local businesses to reflect local culture and opportunities
- Tackling inequalities: understanding and addressing the challenges faced in your area
- Practical strategies for sharing experiences between sectors: taking a multi-disciplinary approach
- Interpreting the needs of employers and influencing curriculum delivery and development
Yiannis Koursis OBE, Group Chief Executive, The Bedford College Group (Invited)
Employer Case Study – Best Practice Throughout the Apprenticeship Lifecycle: Overcoming Challenges From Recruitment to Completion
- Accessing and managing funding to benefit from support available and ensure apprenticeships are compliant
- Developing partnerships with apprenticeship training providers
- Making effective use of social media to promote opportunities
- Ensuring high achievement rates for apprentices: practical hints and tips to maximise success
Sarah Moors, Head of Early Careers and Staff Apprenticeships, BBC (CONFIRMED)
Key Supporter Session
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Working Together to Increase Learner Participation in Practice
With learner participation decreasing, this breakout networking session provides an important opportunity to discuss your experiences of supporting, engaging and inspiring apprentices with your peers facing the same challenges. Explore your common difficulties and solutions whilst networking with colleagues from a range of organisations.
Comfort Break
Case Study of Excellence: Safeguarding Apprentices’ Mental Health and Well-being
- Exploring the benefits of providing mentoring and one-to-one guidance
- Using social enrichment and networking opportunities as a tool to improve apprentices’ sense of connection and community
- Approaches to identifying learners who are struggling with their mental health
- From empathic responses to effective signposting: putting in place a framework to support apprentices’ mental health
Natalie Wood Keating, CEO, The Better Health Generation UK (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Fostering Provider/Employer Partnerships which Champion Careers and Personal Development Opportunities
- Identifying what makes a good working relationship between apprenticeship provider and employer
- Working together to support learners
- Understanding and overcoming the challenges of working in cross-sector partnerships
- Sharing data and benchmarking tools to maximise the benefits of cross-sector relationships
Allan Milne, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement, Salford City College (Invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Emily Rock, CEO, Association of Apprentices and Director, The St Martin’s Group (Invited)
Conference Close
Previous Speakers
Pete Milsom
Partnerships Manager- Apprenticeships
UCAS
Anthony Painter
Director of Policy and External Affairs
Chartered Management Institute
Sam Callear
Deputy Director, Policy and New Concepts
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Patrick Craven
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
City & Guilds
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.
Why You Should Attend
- Gain exclusive insights into the future of apprenticeships with essential policy updates shaping national and local strategies.
- Get clear guidance on the latest funding changes to maximize your apprenticeship programs and secure long-term support.
- Expand your network with cross-sector connections and explore collaborations that can elevate partnership success.
- Learn from real-world case studies across all perspectives – from employer best practices to apprentice success stories – to enhance your own approach.
GE Insights
Your conference package also includes access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more. Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Apprenticeship Directors | Sixth Form Colleges |
| Heads of Professional Learning & Development | Further Education Colleges |
| Heads of School | Universities |
| Business Partnership Managers | Academies |
| Apprenticeship Leads and Coordinators | Teaching Hospitals |
| Careers Advisors | Local Authorities |
| Head Teachers | Private Sector |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris Mott today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.
Benefits of partnering with us include:
- Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
- Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
- Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
- Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
- Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
- Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris Mott at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here
