Skills Funding Agency
Co-ordinated by the Skills Funding Agency, the week will include hundreds of events and activities across England to showcase apprentices and apprentice employers.
Apprenticeships are thriving in England and National Apprenticeship Week will celebrate the positive impact that both apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Employers, apprentices, business support organisations, colleges and training organisations and schools across the country will be encouraged to support the week by hosting activities to showcase the achievements and benefits of apprenticeships.
The government is committed to 3 million apprenticeship starts over the next 5 years and this ambition will be a key driver for next years National Apprenticeship Week.
Richard Harrington MP, Prime Ministers Advisor on Apprenticeships, and joint Chairman of the new Apprenticeship Delivery Board, said:
As part of its remit to stimulate apprenticeship growth Im pleased to say that the Apprenticeship Delivery Board will be steering the direction of the next National Apprenticeship Week, which in 2016 will be between 14 to 18 March.
The knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of the Board will assist our colleagues in business, in BIS, the Skills Funding Agency and the FE and Skills sector to deliver a great week that will highlight the governments key priorities and commitments in this area including the drive towards 3 million apprenticeship starts in this Parliament and the progress of reforms to give employers control of apprenticeships.
Employers take on apprentices throughout the year, but National Apprenticeship Week is about celebrating the crucial role that apprenticeships and traineeships play in upskilling the nation and increasing productivity.
Last years week aimed to encourage more small and medium sized businesses to take on apprentices and promote the range and breadth of apprenticeships on offer, including those at higher level and within blue chip companies. Successes included another 200 businesses joining the Trailblazer programme to design high quality apprenticeships and also the launch of degree apprenticeships. Throughout the week a record-breaking 23,000 apprenticeship vacancies were pledged and the ambition for National Apprenticeship Week 2016 will be to better this.
Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service commented,
Last years National Apprenticeship Week saw some tremendous achievements, but I want next years National Apprenticeship Week to be the best yet. I am looking forward to once again raising the profile of apprenticeships and traineeships and celebrating the important role they play in equipping people of all ages with the skills that they need to prosper in their lives.
To find out more about what happened during National Apprenticeship Week 2015 please see last years campaign web page.