News: 02 October 2026
Why Apprenticeships Fail and How Employers Can Improve Completion Rates
Discover the most common reasons apprenticeships fail and learn practical steps employers can take to improve retention and completion rates.
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Apprenticeships & Upskilling at Oaklands College
Oaklands Training & Development works closely with employers to deliver apprenticeships across a variety of growing industries. These include agriculture and the environment, construction, engineering, education, and a range of professional and service sectors such as hair and beauty, early years, and business administration.
We also offer expert advice and support on every aspect of apprenticeships; from recruitment and training standards to funding compliance and helping you get the most value from your investment in staff development.
Employer Information & Advice
Looking to be an apprentice?
A new era for apprenticeships
The UK Government has announced a major expansion of apprenticeships, placing them on equal footing with university routes and opening up more opportunities for young people and employers.
Apprenticeships are now central to the national skills strategy, with a clear focus on improving access, increasing flexibility and better aligning training with employer needs
Express your interest in joining our webinarWhat’s changing
More opportunities for young people
A national drive to create 50,000 additional apprenticeship places over the next three years, alongside wider investment in “earn and learn” routes.
Fully funded apprenticeships for SMEs (under 25s)
From August, the Government will cover 100% of training costs for eligible apprentices aged under 25 at small and medium-sized businesses, removing the employer contribution.
Increased incentives for employers
Additional financial support is being introduced to make it easier for SMEs to recruit and invest in young talent, including direct incentive payments.
More flexible training options
New shorter courses and modular training in areas such as digital, engineering and AI will support faster, more responsive skill development.
New pathways into work
Expansion of foundation apprenticeships in sectors like retail and hospitality will give more young people a clear starting point into employment.
Simpler access to opportunities
A new national platform, JobHelp, will bring together jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities in one place.
What this means for you
What this means for employers
- Lower cost barriers to recruiting apprentices
- Greater flexibility in how training is delivered
- Increased support to build early-career talent pipelines
- Stronger alignment between training and local workforce needs
What this means for young people
- More funded apprenticeship opportunities
- Clearer pathways into skilled careers
- Greater recognition of apprenticeships as a high-quality alternative to university
- More flexible routes into employment and progression
Apprenticeships News
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