When it comes to engineering apprenticeships, the UK’s engineering sector isn’t short on urgency – we talk about skills gaps, workforce shortages, and energy transitions. We say we need apprentices now. But then reality hits:
❌ Lack of intakes throughout industry
❌ Application cycles closed until November
❌ Funding bottlenecks
❌ Regional gaps in access
❌ SMEs unable to sustain programs
🎶 “When you say it’s gonna happen now… well, when exactly do you mean?” – That lyric sums it up. We’ve made apprenticeships a promise. But for many aspiring engineers, it still feels like a paradox.
And throughout UK industry we’ve witnessed significant changes over the last 25-30 years with engineering apprenticeships – the academic route has been disproportionately pushed for young people and the apprenticeship route has been diluted as a result. Coupled with an ageing workforce the skills gap has widened far more than we could ever have anticipated.
Throughout the UK Level 2 engineering apprenticeships (often entry-level for school leavers) declined by 22.6% between 2021/22 and 2022/23, raising concerns about accessibility for younger learners and starts among 16–19-year-olds have steadily decreased since 2017/18, limiting early career pathways into engineering and in 2023 the Welsh Government announced a 24.2% cut to the apprenticeship budget for 2024–25—roughly £35 million.
We often see ‘pockets’ of apprentice intakes throughout our process industries but its nowhere near enough to cope with existing demand let alone incoming industries.
🎶 “I’ve already waited too long and all my hope is gone” – Let’s ensure young talent isn’t left behind in the race to rebuild our engineering workforce. Every apprenticeship missed is potential unrealised – and that’s a gap we can’t afford.”
Let’s ensure “how soon” actually means right now—not next quarter, or next year or next election cycle.
