The Best Skills For Life: National Apprenticeship Week 2026

Celebrating Skills for Life and Growing Business Potential

Yes, it's that time of year again. National Apprenticeship Week 2026. This year, the event takes place from 9th to 15th February, with the theme Skills For Life. This week provides the perfect opportunity for employers to reflect on how apprenticeships are truly the best skill training your business can invest in.

Whether you are a seasoned apprenticeship champion or you've never taken on an apprentice before, this week is a celebration of apprenticeship success stories, opportunities to learn, and a moment to challenge common misconceptions. In this article, we'll explore why we firmly believe apprenticeships offer the best skills for life and unbeatable value to your business. Likewise, we will also bust myths holding employers back from hiring apprentices and give you practical insights on how to make apprenticeships work for you in 2026 and beyond.

What is National Apprenticeship Week?

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is the UK's biggest celebration of apprenticeships. The aim is to bring together employers, training providers, apprentices, and partners to spotlight the positive impact apprenticeships have on careers, businesses, and the wider economy. The theme for this year is simply 'Skills For Life', emphasising lifelong learning and building talent that lasts.

Throughout the week, employers can join virtual and in-person events themed around 'Skills For Life', access free toolkits and resources, and share their stories using the hashtags #NAW2026 and #SkillsForLife.

Apprenticeships: Skills for Life

When we talk about skills for life, it isn't just about qualifications; it's about tangible impact on your team and business results. Apprenticeships blend structured learning with real work experience. For employers, this means:

1. Skills For Life Designed for Your Business

Apprenticeships are developed in partnership with industry, meaning the learning content directly aligns with the skills your organisation needs today and in the future. The training includes Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) tailored to actual job roles, not generic classroom theory. This ensures apprentices become productive team members capable of driving real results.

Importantly, this applies as much to existing experienced employees in supporting career progression and building leadership capability, as it does for new starters.

2. Boost Productivity

That productivity kicks in almost immediately. Indeed, apprenticeships aren't just training programmes; they are business growth tools. Research shows that apprentices boost productivity and contribute to business performance as they learn and apply skills on the job.

3. Future-Proof Your Workforce

By training apprentices, you are not simply filling current vacancies; you are building your future leadership and specialist talent pools. Apprentices develop fantastic job-specific skills for life alongside crucial soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. This is something all businesses desperately need.

4. Improve Loyalty and Retention

Because apprentices grow their careers within your business, they tend to stay longer. Investing in their development, especially through high-quality training, builds loyalty and reduces turnover and recruitment costs over time.

Myth Busting About Apprenticeships

Despite their benefits, many employers still hold misconceptions about apprenticeships. Let's tackle a few of the most common ones here:

Myth 1: Apprenticeships are only for Young People

The Reality: Apprenticeships are available to learners of all ages, from school leavers to seasoned professionals looking to upskill or retrain. Apprenticeships can be tailored to different levels, including advanced and degree apprenticeships, meaning they are a strategic workforce investment for any age group. Growing numbers of employers now use apprenticeships specifically to develop experienced employees into leadership or specialist roles

Myth 2: Apprenticeships are Just Cheap Labour

The Reality: Apprenticeships are training programmes first and foremost, investing in someone’s long-term capabilities, skills for life, not just filling a short-term job vacancy. Anyone in your business, existing employees or new hires alike, can benefit from the structured learning and mentoring embedded into the role that an apprenticeship programme brings. As such, you are still required to pay their wages, but you will get funding from the levy for the apprenticeship training programme itself.

A point to note, for non-levy paying employers, while the baseline government funding covers 95% of the cost, you can often receive up to 100% of apprenticeship training costs through various initiatives and the levy share. You can read more about government funding for apprenticeships here.

Myth 3: Apprenticeships are Too Complex to Manage

The Reality: Apprenticeships do indeed have rules and frameworks; however, with the right training partner, like Swarm Training, the process can be very straightforward. With dedicated tutors, tailored training, and a collaborative approach, we ensure that both the employer and the apprentice stay right on track.

Myth 4: Apprenticeships Only Train Basic Skills

The Reality: Apprenticeships now span from level 2 right through to level 7 (equivalent to a master's degree). These cover digital, business, management, engineering, and professional disciplines. Apprenticeships can develop highly advanced, industry-specific skills over time.

This makes apprenticeships perfect for new starters and internal career development and advancement alike.

Plan Strategy for 2026

Use National Apprenticeship Week and this year's 'Skills For Life' theme to review your training and development needs and consider where apprenticeships can add value to your business. Remember, training can be from entry-level all the way to advanced skills. Plan recruitment or upskilling your current team players for the year ahead.

Why Employers Who Use Apprenticeships Win

Employers who embrace apprenticeships gain a competitive edge. In fact, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) commissioned Oxford Economics to research the impact that apprentices had on organisations. A report, issued by them for last year's NAW, found that 'apprentices helped create an average boost to their firm’s revenue of £20,900 per apprentice, per year.'

It continues to demonstrate:

• Apprentices contribute significantly to business productivity growth.

• Apprenticeship alumni often demonstrate higher retention and loyalty to their employer.

• Apprenticeships help reduce skills gaps.

This is why apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a strategic business decision, not just a training initiative. Likewise, with the government putting an emphasis on apprenticeships as part of workforce development, businesses that tap into apprenticeships are positioning themselves as forward-thinking and resilient.

You can read the full Oxford Economics report from February 2025 via the link.

Swarm Training: Your Trusted Apprenticeship Partner

At Swarm Training, we have seen first-hand how apprenticeships transform both businesses and individual learners. Our mission is to deliver the best skills for life through tailored apprenticeship programmes that align with your strategic needs. Whether you are:

• Hiring your first apprentice,

• Developing your existing workforce, or

• Reimagining your talent strategy,

We’re here to support you every step of the way, from recruitment to programme completion.

Meet Swarm Training During National Apprenticeship Week 2026

National Apprenticeship Week isn't just about talking; it's about connecting, listening, and supporting employers in real time. That's why Swarm Training will be out and about all week, working directly with businesses and future apprentices to champion Skills For Life.

Here's Our Programme For NAW 2026:

Supporting Our Employer Partners

Throughout NAW 2026, our team will be on-site with a number of our employer partners, as well as attending and contributing to several webinars. Focus will be on apprenticeship opportunities, workforce development, and upskilling existing staff.

These sessions are designed to give employers practical insights, from navigating apprenticeship funding to identifying where apprenticeships can add value to their organisation. It's also a chance for us to listen, answer questions, and help companies make confident, informed decisions about their skill strategy.

Drop-In Clinic at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

We're also delighted to be hosting a drop-in apprenticeship clinic at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Offices for the entire week.

If you’re an employer who:

• Is curious about apprenticeships but not sure where to start

• Wants to upskill existing staff using apprenticeship funding

• Needs clarity on costs, eligibility, or standards

• Simply wants an informal conversation about skills for life training for your business

You’re welcome to pop in and speak to our team. No pressure, no jargon, just honest, practical advice tailored to your organisation.

Manchester Careers Fair – 13th February

Additionally, Swarm Training will be attending the Pathways to Employment event on Friday, 13th February, hosted at Southway Housing Trust, 729 Princess Road, M20 2LT

This is a fantastic opportunity for:

• Employers interested in launching or expanding apprenticeship schemes

• Individuals exploring apprenticeship career routes

• Partners looking to collaborate on skills development

The event features stalls from employers across multiple fields, and the Employment Support Team will be available for 1-to-1 advice, CV help, and information on apprenticeships. If you’re attending and would like to chat about apprenticeship programmes, funding, or how apprenticeships can deliver long-term business value, we’d love to meet you.

Are You Ready To Invest in Skills For Life?

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 is more than a celebration; it’s a chance to take meaningful action. Whether you meet us onsite with your team, join one of our webinars, visit our drop-in clinic at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, or speak to us at the Manchester Careers Fair, Swarm Training is here to help you unlock the opportunities apprenticeships have to offer your business.

If you cannot make any of the aforementioned venues, or if you are reading this after the event, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are always happy to have a simple conversation to help explore what apprenticeships are, how they offer your team the best skills for life, and whether they could play a part in your organisation. Let's build a skilled, confident, productive workforce together.