The Department for the Economy has published statistical reports
on ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher Level Apprenticeships in Further
Education in Northern Ireland, academic year 2024/25.
ApprenticeshipsNI
This statistical report presents a range of analysis on
ApprenticeshipsNI delivered in FE colleges and other training
providers, covering provision across academic years 2019/20 to
2024/25. The analysis covers the characteristics of those
participants starting ApprenticeshipsNI, the number of leavers
and the number of leavers who obtained a Full Framework and the
number of participants on course at the end of October 2025.
Key Points:
- ApprenticeshipsNI starts (7,305) decreased by 3% from
2023/24. The majority of starts – 3,336 (46%) were aged
between 16 and 19 years.
- Over three-fifths (63%) of ApprenticeshipsNI starts were
male; 4,621 males compared with 2,684 females.
- 59% of Level 2 leavers achieved a Full Framework while 61% of
Level 2/3 and Level 3 combined achieved a Full Framework.
- There were 13,324 participants on ApprenticeshipsNI courses
at the end of October 2025.
- Electrotechnical, Health and Social Care, and Engineering
were the most popular Frameworks accounting for 37% of the
ApprenticeshipsNI population at the end of October 2025.
This full publication, including associated tables and documents,
is available on the DfE website at www.economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/apprenticeshipsni-statistics
Higher Level Apprenticeships in Further
Education
This statistical report presents a range of analysis on HLAs
delivered in FE colleges and the College of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), covering provision up to academic year
2024/25. The analysis covers new starts, participation,
performance and the characteristics of those enrolled on an HLA
FE programme.
Key Points:
- 955 new HLA FE starts in 2024/25; the same number as recorded
in 2023/24.
- Approximately one third of HLA FE starts were female in
2024/25, (330 females; 625 males).
- 2,120 students were enrolled on an HLA FE programme in
2024/25.
- Engineering and manufacturing technologies remained the top
sector subject area; making up 36% (775) of all HLA participation
in 2024/25.
- 95% success rate in 2024/25; 640 of the 675 final year
students achieved their HLA qualification.
This full publication, including associated tables and documents,
is available on the DfE website at www.economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/higher-level-apprenticeships-northern-ireland-fe-colleges-and-cafre-bulletins
