Apprenticeships Work

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Apprenticeships Work is a new campaign with a simple goal: to encourage more small businesses to take on apprentices.

SMEs are the backbone of our economy and our communities, but often struggle to engage with the apprenticeship system. They represent 99.8% of businesses and 60% of total employment in the UK, but only employ 37% of apprentices - that's a 17 percentage point fall since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced. We want to change that.

We know that young people’s interest in apprenticeships is growing. At the same time, employers are facing immense skills challenges that limit growth and opportunity. SMEs often struggle to engage with apprenticeships due to a catalogue of administrative and resource demands.

Nearly 1 million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in Education, Employment or Training, economically inactive or unemployed. Unlocking apprenticeship opportunities in SMEs is central to achieving the Government’s Growth and Opportunity Missions. This is why Edge Foundation are launching our campaign to encourage more SMEs to hire apprentices.

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SMEs represent 60% of total employment in the UK.

News - Apprenticeships Work Parliamentary Round Table

Edge convened a private roundtable in Parliament on 24 November to discuss the Apprenticeships Work campaign and establish a broad base of support around our key messages. This is a crucial time for apprenticeship policy in the wake of recent Government announcements on new targets for apprenticeship participation and the Budget just around the corner...Read more

Sorah, Olly 1 edit — Sorah Gluck and Olly Newton at Apprenticeships Work Parliamentary roundtable

Apprenticeships Work launched on 18 September 2025 with this webinar featuring an expert panel including:

Alice Gardner, Chief Executive, Edge Foundation
Andrew Pakes MP, Co-Chair Apprenticeships APPG
Kate Shoesmith, Deputy CEO, Recruitment and Employment Confederation
Praful Nargund, Director, Good Growth Foundation
Anna Ambrose, CEO, Workwhile

We want to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships, spotlight initiatives that are already supporting SMEs, and call on Government to break down the barriers that are holding SMEs back from engaging with the apprenticeship system.

Join our partners and get involved.