Plymouth celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

Plymouth is gearing up to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2026, taking place from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 February. This year’s theme, “Skills for Life,” shines a spotlight on how apprenticeships help people of all ages build confidence, gain real world experience, and take steps toward long-term, rewarding careers.

As part of the city’s efforts to raise the profile of apprenticeships, the council’s skills and post-16 team, based on the first floor of Cobourg House, is working closely with partners across Plymouth to help residents explore training routes and access new career pathways aligned to the city’s priority growth sectors.

Throughout the week, the Skills Launchpad Plymouth team will host a range of sector-focused drop-ins, supporting residents interested in construction and the built environment, childcare, health and social care, tourism, hospitality and retail. One-to-one apprenticeship guidance will also be available for anyone seeking personalised support, with dedicated help for Youth Hub members aged 16 to 24 year olds preparing apprenticeship applications or for interviews.

On Course South West will be offering specialist advice on Wednesday 11 February, between 10am and 1pm, in a dedicated Apprenticeship drop-in in the Learning Hub at Cobourg House. As Plymouth City Council’s adult education service, On Course South West delivers a broad range of apprenticeship programmes for both adults and young people, including inclusive pathways and routes to upskill, retrain or begin a new career. Residents are encouraged to drop in to explore the opportunities available and get support in choosing the right apprenticeship pathway for their future.

Apprenticeships offered through On Course South West include programmes across business and administration, creative and design, digital, health and science, legal, finance and accounting, and sales, marketing and procurement. Each pathway is designed to help bridge Plymouth’s skills gap and support the city’s ongoing economic growth, ensuring that individuals and employers’ benefit from a workforce equipped for the future.

Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council, said: “National Apprenticeship Week is a real highlight for Plymouth. Apprenticeships change lives, they open doors, build confidence, and give people the real-world skills employers value.

“We are incredibly proud of our local employers and training providers who continue to create quality opportunities for residents of all ages to ‘earn while you learn’. For businesses, apprenticeships are not only a good way to bring new talent into the workforce, but also a great option to upskill existing members of the workforce to ensure that they have future ready skills as job roles evolve and technology advances the way we work.”

With 2024/25 data showing 747 apprenticeship achievements per 100,000 residents - significantly higher than the south west (606) and England (538) - National Apprenticeship Week offers a valuable opportunity to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on Plymouth’s communities and employers. Apprenticeships continue to equip residents with the Skills for Life they need to progress with confidence.

Alongside this impressive performance, around 15% of Plymouth’s school and college leavers moved into sustained apprenticeships, compared with just 7% nationally. As in previous years, Plymouth continues to lead the way, consistently outperforming regional and national averages for apprenticeship starts, participation, and achievement.

Further information, along with localised digital resources to help find apprenticeships as well as access Plymouth’s Apprenticeship Bulletin showcasing hundreds of live vacancies, is available here.