To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, the government has announced a major overhaul of the apprenticeship system, aiming to cut the red tape around access and get more young people into skilled roles.
According to Department for Education data, England saw a 22% year-on-year surge in apprenticeship completions during the first quarter of 2025/26, with 46,140 achievements recorded. These figures establish the baseline against which the success of the new flagship reforms will be measured.
During this same period, learner participation rose by 3.2% to a total of 589,850, while new apprenticeship starts reached 142,780 – a 7.7% annual increase. The Business, Administration, and Law sector continues to lead with 38,860 starts, though Construction, Planning, and the Built Environment saw a significant 9.3% growth.
To highlight these trends, the Polimapper data team has built a comprehensive dashboard tracking commencements, participation, and achievements. Our visualisation offers a granular look at apprenticeship accessibility across the country.
In this visualisation, we have mapped Apprenticeship data from the Department for Education at the constituency level. Apprenticeship rates per 1,000 were calculated using 2024 population estimates (16+).
At a constituency level, the data reveals disparities in participation rates. Our analysis identifies over 40 participations per 1,000 people in Gosport, Chippenham, and Richmond and Northallerton.
Conversely, London constituencies, such as Finchley and Golders Green and Hampstead and Highgate, reported lower rates of fewer than 6 per 1,000.
Explore our dashboard to discover the apprenticeship statistics in your area.
Geodata context
The reforms introduced by the government ahead of National Apprenticeship Week will streamline pathways into employment by accelerating approval processes and developing short courses. This forms part of a broader strategy to deliver 50,000 additional apprenticeships, supported by £725 million in funding.
Pat McFadden, work and pensions secretary: “Britain’s future depends on getting more young people into good jobs with real prospects. These reforms will slash bureaucracy so we can train people faster in the industries where they’re needed most.”
However, organisations have expressed concerns regarding these reforms, cautioning that a drive for quantity should not come at the expense of training quality.
Carl Cullinane, director of research and policy at Sutton Trust: “Accelerating the approval process in areas of key demand could help boost the number of apprenticeships available.”
“Also, targeting these opportunities in more deprived areas could help to boost social mobility in these parts of the country.
“However, speed shouldn’t come at the expense of quality, and Sutton Trust research has shown there are issues with poor quality training and high drop out rates in some parts of the apprenticeship system. It’s vital that these courses are not just filling short term demand but also delivering the skills that young people need to benefit their careers in the longer term.”
