Marking National Apprenticeship Week, we share ISE’s top 10 articles on apprentices and apprenticeships. As well as policy updates and best practice, you’ll find our latest data and know-how.
-
Apprenticeships rise as graduate vacancies drop 8%
The top spot goes to the rise of apprenticeships, as demonstrated in our latest Student Recruitment Survey. Not only have apprenticeships shown consistent growth since the levy was launched, there has been a rebalancing of early careers hiring. Employers who recruited students onto both pathways, hired 1.8 graduates for every apprentice last year, which is down from 2.3 in 2024. Projections for this year suggest the ratio will decline further.
-
What does 2026 hold for apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are undergoing the most significant overhaul since the introduction of the levy. At the start of the year, we set out what’s to come in 2026. From fresh government investment and new financial rules to the setting of new assessment standards, there’s lots to come. As well as explaining the key themes we share a webinar that unpacks the practical implications for employers, providers and apprentices.
-
Key takeaways from biggest ever ISE Apprenticeship event
The line-up for ISE’s 2026 Apprenticeship Conference has been confirmed. Last year saw a record turnout and ISE Fellow and apprenticeship champion, Simon Reichwald, shared what he learned and key takeaways. Booking is open for this year’s conference in March. Don’t miss out, this is a must-attend event for anyone involved in apprentice recruitment and development.
-
How HSBC approaches apprenticeship programme design
ISE Award winner HSBC took us behind its apprenticeship programme to show the steps it has taken to address critical skills gaps while cultivating a skilled and diverse workforce. If you have a campaign or programme to share, ISE Awards 2026 are now open for entries.
-
Employers concerned student use of AI misrepresents skills
ISE’s Student Development Survey revealed concern over the applications made by school and college leavers and how they could be using AI to misrepresent their abilities. In particular, more employers reported increasingly unmet expectations in resilience and self-awareness as well as essential communication and interpersonal skills. Findings from this year’s survey will launch at the forthcoming Student Development Conference.
-
What you need to know about post-16 skills reforms
In November, ISE’s Anne-Marie Campion offered her take on the newly published Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. Setting out the government’s ambitious plans for reform, she considered what it means for employers of apprentices as well as what’s to come.
-
How are employers using apprenticeships?
Valuable insight to how employers are using apprenticeships was also reported in ISE’s Student Development Survey. We covered the levy spend and the type of hire enrolled as well as the hiring impact of the apprenticeship reforms.
-
DLA Piper’s most successful early careers strategy
DLA Piper’s early careers strategy expertly aligns internships, apprenticeships and graduate programmes, across 10 locations. If you want to understand how to knit together an award-winning international early careers strategy, this is the case study to read.
-
8 reasons to engage with schools and colleges
2025 saw ISE publish the School and College Engagement Toolkit. This first guide in a series of three covered why employers should invest, including the significance of increased apprenticeship applications.
-
How FDM Group is engaging parents in apprenticeships
Parents became a top priority for FDM Group when it launched its first degree apprenticeship. They take us through their journey and how the approach has been refined.