Since the UK Government raised the cap on university tuition fees it is even more important to have alternative options available for young people that are looking to get into their chosen career.

Apprenticeship Week provided the opportunity for organisations to reassess the apprenticeship programmes they already have in place and to showcase the positive results that have already come out of them. The week focused on the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

The British Army has the largest apprenticeship scheme in the country, but research commissioned as part of its national recruitment campaign has shown that over half of Britons are not aware of the communications roles available within The Army. The Army aims to tackle this problem with more than 100 recruitment events taking place across the country this month including job fairs, school visits, webchats, skills presentations and local Army soldiers and officers in attendance, who will answer questions and advise potential apprentices.

The British Army’s communications apprentice ambassador, lance corporal Kirsty Ralphs, says, “Before joining the Army I didn’t have any specific qualifications - now I am on an apprenticeship programme where I am training towards an NVQ. My NVQ will be recognised by civilian companies so it’s reassuring to know the training I’m receiving is for life, not just for the Army.”

National Apprenticeship Week ran from 9 to 13 March. Events were held all around the country, 200 new businesses joined the Trailblazer programme to design high quality apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships were launched.