Employers up and down the country have been recognised by the
government for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships support businesses of all sizes to develop the
skilled workforce they need to grow, while helping people of all
ages and backgrounds to earn while they learn and get ahead in
their chosen career. The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top
50 Small and Medium Employers (SMEs) league tables showcase the
very best apprenticeship programmes over the past 12 months.
Employers are ranked not just on the number of apprentices they
take on, but for their commitment to diversity and apprenticeship
achievements. Their dedication to delivering high-quality
apprenticeships plays a crucial role in boosting the skills and
career opportunities of people from all backgrounds and helping
the economy to grow.
For the fourth time, the British Army has been named the
country's number one apprenticeship employer for 2024. The
accountancy and business advisory group, DJH, has been named this
year's top SME apprenticeship employer.
The celebration follows the launch of Skills England, which aims
to unite businesses, trade unions, mayors, and training providers
to address national and local skills needs and boost opportunity
while driving economic growth.
Skills are crucial to growth, with a third of productivity gains
in the past two decades attributed to improved skills. Under
Skills England, reforms to the apprenticeship levy will allow
businesses more flexibility to use levy funds on necessary
training for skills. This will protect apprenticeships, ensuring
opportunities for young people and lifelong upskilling and
retraining for workers.
Education Secretary said:
Congratulations to all the employers across the country which
have been recognised for their brilliant apprenticeship
programmes.
Apprenticeships provide opportunities for people from all walks
and the employers ranked in this list are crucial to our plans in
supporting people to get better jobs and grow the economy.
With the launch of Skills England, we will bring together
businesses with trade unions, mayors and training providers to
ensure we have the highly trained workforce needed to deliver the
national, regional and local skills needs.
First compiled in 2020, the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers
celebrates England's outstanding apprenticeship employers,
recognising their commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the
diversity of their apprentices, and the number of apprentices who
successfully achieve their apprenticeships.
Over 73,000 apprenticeships were started at employers in the 2024
rankings, accounting for more than a fifth of all starts in
England, helping to fill skills gaps and create a future talent
pipeline.
The employers in this list represent a range of industries &
business sectors, from professional services, health and social
care and retailing, to construction, technology and
manufacturing.
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker KCB DSO ADC
Gen, and head of the British Army, said:
We're proud of our apprentices and the recognition we've
received. Apprenticeships offer people the chance to earn while
they learn, gaining skills and confidence that benefit them
beyond their time in the army.
Our soldiers are not just in the British Army; they are the
British Army! Everything we can do to
upskill them makes us a better Army, which is what the
nation would expect.
DJH was the frontrunner in the Top 50 SMEs. This category was
introduced to credit the essential work of smaller businesses in
providing apprenticeship opportunities, particularly to young
people and those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.
Chris Rawlinson, Head of Learning and Development at DJH said:
We are proud to be recognised as the number one SME Employer of
Apprentices - this ranking is a testament to our commitment to
learning and development, and our ongoing investment in the
future.
We are dedicated to recruiting and nurturing trainees from locals
schools, colleges and universities, recognising that these
individuals are the future of the business.
We ensure that our apprentices not only gain the necessary
technical skills but also develop vital soft skills, helping our
apprentices to reach their full potential and build successful
careers within the industry.
Over the past three years, more than 1,000 apprenticeship
employers from a wide range of industries and business sectors
have entered for the rankings. Together these employers
currently employ over 90,000 apprentices, half of whom began
their apprenticeship in the past year.
The Top 10 Apprenticeship Employers for 2024 are:
- The British Army
- BT
- Royal Navy
- Royal Air Force
- London Ambulance Service
- BAE Systems
- The Go-Ahead Group
- Mitchells & Butlers
- Tops Day Nurseries
- PwC
The Top 5 SME Apprenticeship Employers for 2024 are:
- DJH
- Roe Brickwork
- LB Group
- Lee Marley Brickwork
- Rosedene Nurseries
