Entry‑level apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways for young people to enter the labour market, gain confidence, and build the skills they need to progress. Yet over the past decade, opportunities at Levels 2 and 3 have declined sharply, narrowing vocational pathways for those young people who stand to benefit the most. At Youth Futures Foundation, our mission is to help create a skills and employment system that offers more high‑quality, accessible routes into work for marginalised young people. Recent apprenticeship policy announcements signal important shifts across the system, but while long‑term reforms take shape, young people need opportunities now. That’s why, working with Amazing Apprenticeships and Workwhile, we created the Make it an Apprenticeship campaign - inspiring employers to take practical action today.
Our campaign showcases organisations of all sizes and sectors who are already creating impactful Level 2 and 3 opportunities, demonstrating that apprenticeships deliver stronger recruitment pipelines, improved retention, greater diversity, and a more sustainable future workforce.
At the heart of the campaign are three clear calls to action for employers:
- Make it an apprenticeship: when you have an entry-level vacancy, ask yourself ‘could this be an apprenticeship?’ Many roles can be reimagined as earn-and-learn opportunities – unlocking new talent and widening access.
- Make it Level 2: review entry requirements, rethink unnecessary barriers, and open more pathways at Level 2. This is where opportunity is most limited – and where apprenticeships can have the biggest impact.
- Make more opportunities: if you can, train additional apprentices for the benefit of your sector or supply chain.
These calls to action reflect what employers told us they need: clarity, not complexity. They focus on what is achievable today, while connecting directly to the systems-level change already underway.
Real progress happens when we move forward together. Increasing the supply of high-quality, entry-level apprenticeships depends on the combined efforts of thousands of employers, colleges, training providers and policymakers who share a commitment to improving opportunities for young people. By taking practical steps now, while aligning our messages and actions around longer-term reform, we can accelerate progress and achieve far more collectively than any one initiative could alone. That’s why we’re delighted to collaborate with organisations working towards the same goal, including Edge Foundation’s Apprenticeships Work campaign, which champions the role of SMEs. Approaches may differ, but the ambition is shared: a landscape where employers feel confident and supported to create more Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships.
Real momentum comes when employers lead from the front. If you recruit entry‑level roles, you have the power to open doors right now: redesign roles as apprenticeships, create more Level 2 and 3 pathways and invest in the young talent your organisation — and your sector — needs for the future.
By stepping up today, employers can directly increase opportunities for young people and help build a system that works better for everyone. Together, we can grow the number of high‑quality entry‑level apprenticeships and create futures that work for both businesses and young people.
Written by
Kate Carr, Senior Employer Engagement & Partnerships Manager, Youth Futures Foundation