The tenth National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW17) runs from 6 to 10 March 2017 and aims to celebrate the positive impact that Apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses and the economy. The week, co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, will encourage more employers to take on apprentices and individuals to choose an Apprenticeship as a ladder of opportunity to a great career. According to the Department for Education, after finishing, the majority of apprentices (90%) stay in employment, with seven in ten (71%) staying with the same employer.

In support of the week the Engineering Council is preparing a special page on the website to be launched on 6 March. Visit www.engc.org.uk during National Apprenticeship Week to read about the experiences of two Engineering Council Board Members who started out as apprentices, as well as a handful of other former apprentices who talk about their careers, achievements and how they discovered engineering. Many engineering Apprenticeships now lead to professional registration with the Engineering Council. To read more about this, please visit our apprentices page

This year the overarching theme of National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Ladder of opportunity’. All over the country employers, schools, colleges and training organisations will support the week by holding events and hosting activities to promote Apprenticeship opportunities. Click on the link to an online map with information about National Apprenticeship Week events happening across the UK.