13/01/2025

The Association of Apprentices (AoA) unveils the results of its groundbreaking Big Apprentice Survey, completed in November 2024, offering a comprehensive look into the experiences of over 2,000 apprentices across the UK. This important study provides crucial findings and insights for the whole apprenticeship ecosystem, including employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations, policymakers, and apprentices themselves.

This strategic timing of its release, ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 serves important purposes:

1. Informing Discussions: The findings will provide insight for meaningful conversations during National Apprenticeship Week, ensuring that the voices and experiences of apprentices are at the forefront of discussions.

2. Guiding Improvements: By releasing the report now, stakeholders have the opportunity to use the information to enhance their strategies to address the identified challenges. 

3. Highlighting Current Issues and Increasing Awareness: The report provides up-to-date data into the apprentice experience, throughout their journey.

Key Findings: 

• Value of Apprenticeships:
  • A large majority of apprentices value the ability to gain work experience alongside a qualification (74%), career progression (51%), and hands-on experience (46%).
  • Apprentices also report significant personal growth (78%), additional training opportunities (66%), and increased confidence (62%) as key benefits of their apprenticeships.
  • 36% of apprentices believe they would not be working in their current industry without access to an apprenticeship, with this number rising to 40% for those who received free school meals, highlighting the role of apprenticeships in promoting social mobility. 

• Challenges Faced:
  • The most common challenges include managing work/life balance (36%), time management (33%), and completing and recording off-the-job training (32%).
  • 62% of apprentices reported feeling stressed or anxious in the last 12 months, with work/life balance (42%) and worries about the end-point assessment (38%) being the main causes. 

• Improvements Needed:
  • Apprentices call for increased financial support, including wages that match the national minimum wage, travel and accommodation subsidies, and access to student discounts.     
  • Better mentorship programmes, clear career progression paths, flexible working arrangements, and improved communication are also highly desired from employers.
  • Enhanced learning support, tailored study options, and reduced administrative burdens were cited as aspects for Training Providers
  • The Government is urged to increase funding for apprenticeships and provide mental health support.

Call to Action 

AoA emphasises the need to move beyond simply hiring apprentices and focus on creating a supportive and enriching experience that leads to better outcomes. These survey findings will inform AoA’s work to advocate for the needs of apprentices and presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders in the apprenticeship ecosystem to collaborate to enhance the apprenticeship experience.

Emily Rock, CEO of The Association of Apprentices, emphasises the importance of these findings: “The Association of Apprentices’ Big Apprentice Survey 2024 provides crucial insights directly from over 2,000 apprentices, highlighting both the immense value of apprenticeships and the challenges that must be addressed. This survey is more than just data; it is the voice of apprentices themselves, who are too often left out of the conversations that impact them the most. At AoA, we believe that no one understands the apprentice experience better than an apprentice, and this survey validates the importance of peer support and community, which are central to our mission.”

For more detailed information and to access the full report, please click the link below. We encourage apprenticeship community to engage with this data, share their perspectives, and work collaboratively to enhance the apprenticeship experience for all