Apprenticeships: UK Government creates 50,000 apprenticeships in engineering, construction and more - apply
The Government is funding new schemes to help young people gain skills, training, and paid experience 💼
- 50,000 new apprenticeships are to be created over the next three years, backed by £725m
- The Government aims to tackle youth unemployment and rising Neet numbers
- Apprenticeships will be targeted at AI, engineering, hospitality, and local growth sectors
- Small and medium businesses will be fully funded to take on apprentices
- Our step-by-step guidance is provided for young people to apply and secure a place
For 1,000s of young people struggling to find stable work, a new Government’s announcement could mark a turning point.
Ministers have confirmed a major expansion of apprenticeships in what they describe as a direct intervention to stop youth unemployment climbing further.
50,000 new places will be created over the next three years, backed by £725 million of investment.
But behind the headlines is a practical question: how do you actually get one of these new apprenticeships? And will this expansion genuinely make a difference to young people who have been shut out of work, education and training?
What’s happening?
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will officially unveil the plans on Monday (December 8) during a visit to McLaren’s technology centre in Surrey, meeting apprentices already working in engineering, tech and design.
McLaren — fresh from driver Lando Norris’s Formula 1 championship win — employs 84 people through its early-careers programmes, and is developing new schemes to widen access.
The Government’s goal is to restore apprenticeships as a respected, mainstream route into high-quality careers, equal in status to university degrees.
The number of young people starting apprenticeships has fallen by almost 40% over the last decade, a drop Labour says is “holding back opportunity”.
“For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university,” Starmer said. “If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else.”
The £725m package will be targeted at industries with growing skills shortages, including artificial Intelligence and digital roles, engineering and advanced manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and local growth sectors identified by mayors and councils,
Apprenticeships at small and medium-sized businesses will be fully funded, removing one of the biggest barriers companies face when taking on trainees.
A further £140 million will be given to regional mayors to connect young people not in employment, education or training (Neet) with local employers offering apprenticeships.
Why it matters
The number of young people classed as Neet is rising sharply, and could soon exceed one million, a level not seen since after the 2008 financial crisis.
Ministers say the new investment is designed to stop a “lost generation”, with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announcing an additional £820 million to guarantee skills training, work experience and jobs for long-term unemployed young people.
“Young people do need a better deal,” McFadden said. “This funding is a downpayment on their futures.”
How to secure one of the new apprenticeships
If you’re looking to take advantage of the new opportunities, here’s where to start:
- Check the official apprenticeship portal: The Government will funnel many of the new roles through the existing service at gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. New programmes will be added over the next several months as funding is released.
- Contact local colleges and training providers: Colleges typically partner with employers to run apprenticeship programmes and will have early access to new offerings.
- Use your regional mayor’s skills hub: With £140m being handed to devolved areas, local authorities will become a key gateway, especially for young people currently out of work.
- Look at major employers expanding schemes: Firms like McLaren, engineering groups, hospitality chains and tech companies are all expected to increase intake.
- Prepare a simple skills-focused CV: Apprenticeships don’t require long work histories. Highlight enthusiasm, reliability, problem-solving, and any hands-on experience.
Are you job-hunting? To view thousands of roles available right now, visit the JobsToday website.