/ Association of Apprentices, News / By

The BIG Apprentice Survey 2026/2027

Click here to take part

25/09/2026

The BIG Apprentice Survey 2027, opening Autumn 2026, the UK's largest independent apprentice voice survey.The UK’s largest independent apprentice voice survey

More than 4,500 apprentices contributed to AoA’s BIG Apprentice Survey last year, creating one of the UK’s most comprehensive sources of insight into the apprentice experience. The findings provided valuable evidence for employers, training providers, awarding organisations and policymakers, highlighting the factors that contribute to successful apprenticeship experiences and positive outcomes. Findings were published in The BIG Apprentice Survey Report 2026.
 
Opening on 19th October 2026, the Association of Apprentices will once again invite apprentices across the UK to share their experiences, perspectives and aspirations through The BIG Apprentice Survey.
 
The findings will be published in The BIG Apprentice Survey Report 2027 during National Apprenticeship Week 2027, helping to inform conversations about apprenticeship policy, practice and support across the sector.
 

Putting apprentice voices at the centre

The BIG Apprentice Survey exists to ensure apprentices have an opportunity to influence the future of apprenticeships. By capturing apprentice perspectives at scale, the survey helps organisations better understand what is working well, where challenges remain and what changes could have the greatest impact on apprentice experiences and outcomes.
 
From progression and workplace support to wellbeing and long-term career development, the findings provide practical insight that can support improvement across the apprenticeship system.
 

Support The BIG Apprentice Survey 2027

Employers, training providers and apprenticeship awarding organisations all have an important role to play in ensuring apprentice voices are heard.
When the survey opens, we encourage organisations to:
  • Share the survey with apprentices across your organisation or learner network.
  • Promote participation through internal communications, learner bulletins and apprentice communities.
  • Encourage apprentices to take part and share their honest experiences.
  • Help raise awareness of the survey across your professional networks.
  • Support the development of a stronger evidence base for apprenticeships across the UK.
Every response helps build a clearer picture of the apprentice experience and strengthens the collective voice of apprentices nationwide.

Insights from The BIG Apprentice Survey 2026

Last year’s survey and this year’s report highlighted several important themes:
  • Career progression is now the most valued aspect of the apprenticeship experience.
  • Strong support from employers and line managers is closely associated with positive outcomes.
  • Inclusive workplaces are linked to greater progression and long-term stability. 
  • Apprentices continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the apprenticeship system and contributing to future solutions.

Take part and be entered into our prize draw

To thank apprentices for taking part in the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27, eligible participants who complete the survey and choose to enter the optional prize draw will have the chance to win one of three £75 e-vouchers.
 
The prize draw will be open to UK residents aged 18 or over who are current apprentices, have completed an apprenticeship, or left an apprenticeship early.
 

Survey launch updates

The BIG Apprentice Survey 2027 will open in Autumn 2026.
 
This page will be updated with survey links, promotional resources and guidance to help organisations encourage participation.

Together, we can ensure apprentice voices continue to inform and strengthen the future of apprenticeships.

Update – 13/10/2026
 
The Association of Apprentices is pleased to be working with Impact Futures Group as the BIG Apprentice Survey & Insight Partner for 2026-27. Through this partnership, we will work together to amplify apprentice voice, expand participation and strengthen the evidence base on apprentice experience across the apprenticeship sector.
 
Update 16/10/2026
 
Eligible participants who complete the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27 and choose to enter the optional prize draw will have the opportunity to win one of three £75 e-vouchers. Full terms and conditions are provided below.

BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27 Prize Draw Terms and Conditions

1. Promoter

The promoter is the Association of Apprentices, 4th Floor, 45 The Poynt, Wollaton Street, Nottingham, NG1 5FW.
For questions about the prize draw, please contact: members@associationofapprentices.org.uk

2. Summary

Eligible participants who complete the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27 and choose to enter the optional prize draw will have the opportunity to win one of three £75 e-vouchers.
There will be three winners. Each winner will receive one £75 e-voucher.
No purchase or payment is required to enter.

3. Eligibility

The prize draw is open to individuals who:
  • Are aged 18 or over at the time of entry.
  • Are resident in the United Kingdom.
  • Are a current apprentice, have completed an apprenticeship, or left an apprenticeship early.
  • Complete and submit the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27 during the entry period.
  • Provide a valid name and email address for the purpose of administering the prize draw.
Employees of the Association of Apprentices and anyone directly involved in administering the survey or prize draw are not eligible to enter.
The Association of Apprentices may ask a potential winner to provide reasonable evidence of their current or previous apprenticeship. Any evidence provided will be used only to verify eligibility.
Participation in the survey does not guarantee entry into the prize draw. Participants must separately choose to enter and provide the required contact information.

4. Entry Period

The prize draw opens on 19 October 2026.
Entries must be received by 23:59 on Friday 4th December 2026.
Entries received after the closing time will not be included.
The closing date will not be changed unless circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Association of Apprentices make this necessary and the change would not unfairly disadvantage existing entrants.

5. How to Enter

To enter the prize draw, an eligible participant must:
  1. Complete and submit the BIG Apprentice Survey 2026-27 before the closing time.
  2. Confirm that they wish to enter the prize draw.
  3. Provide a valid name and email address.
Entry into the prize draw is optional. Eligible participants may complete the survey without entering the prize draw.
Only one prize draw entry per person is permitted. Duplicate entries may be removed.
Survey responses will be treated confidentially. Contact details supplied for the prize draw will be used only to administer the draw and, wherever technically possible, will be held separately from survey responses.
The Association of Apprentices is not responsible for entries that are incomplete, corrupted, delayed, misdirected or not successfully submitted because of technical, network, equipment or software failure.

6. The Prizes

There are three prizes.
Each winner will receive one £75 e-voucher.
Each winner may select their preferred voucher from a range of online retailers made available by the Association of Apprentices. The available retailers will be determined at the Association of Apprentices’ discretion and may depend on availability through its chosen e-voucher provider.
Voucher availability and the relevant retailer’s or voucher provider’s terms and conditions will apply.
The prizes are:
  • Non-transferable.
  • Non-refundable.
  • Not exchangeable for cash.
  • Not replaceable if lost, deleted or used without the winner’s permission after delivery.
If circumstances beyond its reasonable control make this necessary, the Association of Apprentices may replace a prize with an alternative of equal or greater value.

7. Winner Selection

Three winners will be selected at random from all valid and eligible entries received before the closing time.
The selection will take place using a verifiably random computer process or under the supervision of an independent person.
Each eligible entrant can win no more than one prize.
The draw will take place within five working days of the closing date.

8. Winner Notification and Claiming a Prize

The winners will be contacted using the email address provided with their prize draw entry.
Each potential winner must respond within seven calendar days of the notification email and provide any information reasonably required to confirm eligibility and deliver the prize.
If a potential winner:
  • Does not respond within seven calendar days.
  • Cannot be contacted.
  • Is unable to demonstrate eligibility.
  • Has provided inaccurate entry information.
  • Declines the prize.
The Association of Apprentices may withdraw the prize and select a replacement winner at random.
Prizes will normally be delivered by email within 30 days of the closing date or, where a replacement winner is selected, within 30 days of that winner accepting the prize.
Entrants are responsible for checking their spam or junk email folders after the draw.

9. Winner Information

To demonstrate that valid prizes have been awarded, the Association of Apprentices may publish or make available limited information about the winners, ordinarily each winner’s surname and county.
Entrants can object to the publication of this information, or request that the amount of information published be reduced, by contacting members@associationofapprentices.org.uk.
The Association of Apprentices may still be required to provide winner information to the Advertising Standards Authority if requested.
No winner will be required to participate in publicity without separate agreement.

10. Personal Information and Privacy

Survey Information

Survey responses will be used to analyse the apprentice experience and produce research, reports and insight about apprenticeships.
Survey responses and resulting research data may be retained for research, analysis, reporting and historical comparison in accordance with the Association of Apprentices’ retention policies and privacy notice.
Findings will be published in aggregated or anonymised form and will not identify individual participants unless a participant has separately and explicitly agreed to be identified.
Individual survey responses will be treated confidentially and accessed only by authorised individuals who require access to administer or analyse the survey.

Prize Draw Information

Participants who choose to enter the prize draw will be asked to provide their name and email address. The Association of Apprentices may also request reasonable evidence of apprenticeship status from a potential winner.
Prize draw information will be used to:
  • Verify eligibility.
  • Administer the prize draw.
  • Select and contact winners.
  • Deliver the prizes.
  • Select replacement winners where necessary.
  • Demonstrate that the prize draw was conducted fairly.
  • Meet applicable legal and regulatory obligations.
Prize draw contact details will not be used to identify or attribute an individual’s survey responses.

Retention

Names, email addresses and other contact details collected specifically for the prize draw will be retained for no longer than 12 months after the prize draw closes.
This means that prize draw contact details will normally be securely deleted or anonymised by 30 November 2027.
The 12-month retention period allows the Association of Apprentices to administer the draw, deliver the prizes, resolve queries and demonstrate that the promotion was conducted fairly.
Information relating to winners may be retained for longer where necessary to meet legal, financial, audit or regulatory obligations.
Survey responses and resulting aggregated or anonymised research data may be retained for longer for research, reporting and historical comparison.

Sharing Personal Information

Personal information may be shared with service providers that assist with:
  • Survey administration.
  • Survey analysis.
  • Prize draw administration.
  • E-voucher delivery.
Any sharing will be subject to appropriate data protection arrangements.
Personal information will not be sold or supplied to Impact Futures Group for marketing purposes.

11. Marketing Communications

Entering the prize draw will not automatically subscribe an entrant to marketing communications.
Existing communication preferences will not be affected.
If an entrant separately chooses to receive marketing communications, that consent may be withdrawn at any time by using the unsubscribe link in an email or contacting the Association of Apprentices.

12. Disqualification, Changes and Cancellation

The Association of Apprentices may disqualify an entrant where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant:
  • Has provided false or misleading information.
  • Is not eligible.
  • Has attempted to enter more than once.
  • Has interfered with the entry or selection process.
  • Has otherwise breached these terms and conditions.
The Association of Apprentices may amend, suspend or cancel the prize draw only where circumstances beyond its reasonable control make this necessary.
Any material change will be communicated clearly and will not unfairly disadvantage participants who have already entered.
The Association of Apprentices’ decisions regarding the administration of the prize draw are final, subject to applicable law and entrants’ statutory rights.

13. Liability

Nothing in these terms and conditions excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so.
Subject to that limitation, the Association of Apprentices will not be responsible for losses caused by circumstances outside its reasonable control or for problems arising from the acts, systems or terms of third-party voucher providers.

14. Governing Law

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Entrants living in Scotland or Northern Ireland retain any mandatory rights to bring proceedings in their home jurisdiction.

15. Further Information

For information about how the Association of Apprentices processes personal information, please see our Privacy Policy.
Questions about the prize draw or the use of personal information can be sent to:
Email: members@associationofapprentices.org.uk
Post:
Association of Apprentices
4th Floor, 45 The Poynt
Wollaton Street
Nottingham
NG1 5FW
 

Jan Richardson-Wilde

CEO, Occupational Awards Limited

Jan is the CEO of Occupational Awards Limited, a Director of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink and an FE College Governor. She has over 35 years’ experience in the education sector in strategic and operational management of training programmes with colleges, private training providers, local authorities the voluntary sector and not for profit organisations. Jan has previously been a board member of the Learning and Skills Council, chair of the North Yorkshire Training Provider network and Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Coast College and a Governor of the Grimsby Institute for Further and Higher Education. She has extensive experience of education policy, apprenticeships, qualification, and curriculum development as well as business improvement.

Jan joined OAL in 2019, a leading non-profit industry-focused Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisation, supporting a wide range of employers and of key stakeholders to succeed and surpass expectations. Jan is committed to continuous improvement and enthusiastic about improving the effectiveness, impact and quality of apprenticeships, education, and training in the UK and internationally. She has a wide range of experience of working in a collaborative context with employers and training providers to develop End Point Assessment, apprenticeships, and a wide range of vocational programmes.