Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, celebrates annual week-long national celebration of apprenticeship
Plymouth is celebrating this year’s National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February) – focussing on the wider positive impact of apprenticeships, broadening both individuals’ and businesses’ horizons and supporting the development of a skilled workforce – by shining a light on the array of opportunities (and examples) available in the City.
With data collected for the city showing 754 achievements per 100,000 residents compared with 582 for South West and 492 for England, and 16% of the city’s school and college leavers entering onto an apprenticeship compared to 10% nationally *, Plymouth already leads the way with above regional and national rates for Apprenticeship starts, participation and achievements.
Key sectors for achievements in the city are Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies; Construction, Planning and the Built Environment; Health, Public Services and Care and Business, Administration and Law.
One such testimony to the City’s success story comes from University Hospitals Plymouth Trust, where a diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities is on offer too, this time throughout their hospital network. With nearly 350 existing UHP apprentices studying across 33 different speciality subjects and ranging from Nursing Associate or Network Engineer, Accountant or Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Business Administrator or Building Services Engineer, their apprenticeships showcase just some of the variety on offer.
The key to UHP’s success is the fact they believe in supporting the next generation of talent, providing not just a qualification but a pathway to a rewarding, long-term career combined with expert mentors, hands-on work experience, and the chance to earn while you learn – with an eye to expanding their apprenticeship offerings even further with more and more options now delivered using a hybrid or distance learning approach as well as traditional learning pathways.
Leah Brooks, Apprenticeship Lead at UHP says: “As an organisation, we are committed to using apprenticeships as opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, to work with us, developing themselves to gain a rewarding career in healthcare, whether that be working directly with our patients, or as a member of one of our invaluable support teams.”
Meanwhile, Plymouth is also working hard to promote city-wide opportunities for “apprentices-to-be”, with dedicated highlights such as the City’s Early Careers Fair, support in the form of the award-winning Building Plymouth Apprentice Rising Talent (BPART) network and a monthly source of information and guidance, Skills Launchpad Plymouth, delivering a vital service to anyone who wishes to explore apprenticeships, as well as hosting lots of events all year around.
In fact, Plymouth is a STEM city, with nearly 60% of employment and a majority of apprenticeships in engineering, manufacturing, construction and the built environment.
Babcock International Group is a leading provider of critical, complex engineering services which support national defence, save lives and protect communities. In September 2024, it welcomed 145 apprentices and 115 graduates to its Devonport facility.
John Gane, Babcock’s Managing Director at Devonport, said, “Our apprenticeship programme is one example of how we are investing in people and supporting economic growth across the region, giving more people the opportunity for long-term careers across the defence industry, with the unique opportunities and skilled technical training that comes with this.”
The company is now recruiting for a further 239 apprentices and 139 graduates for their 2025 programme; these numbers are significantly higher than in 2024 and will allow the team the opportunity to offer even more early career options, thus greatly contributing to making the city of Plymouth a key destination for apprentices-to-be with a keen interest in this sector.
In addition to this, Babcock also recently welcomed 18 people onto their new, innovative engineering pre-apprenticeship programme which, delivered in partnership with City College Plymouth, provides an alternative route into the company for a broader range of talented people who require some additional support and mentoring to start their career. When the 12-month programme concludes, all those who have successfully completed it are guaranteed a place on their apprenticeship programme the following year.
As part of its commitment to tackling the region’s skills gap and meeting the growing demands of the local economy and a commitment to supporting Plymouth’s transition to a greener, net-zero economy, City College Plymouth is set to increase its apprentice numbers by 16% in the 2025/26 academic year, with key focus on blue and green sectors, such as construction and sustainability.
As the region’s anchor institution for skills, the College plans to expand its Apprenticeship offering year-on-year over the next five years. This growth aligns with Plymouth’s evolving industry needs, particularly in high-growth sectors such as marine, defence, nuclear, renewable energy, and construction.
The College’s focus on sustainability and innovation is demonstrated by the development of the Blue-Green Skills Hub, a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Plymouth. Created in partnership with Plymouth City Council, the Hub will play a transformative role in the city’s regeneration, with the capacity to train up to 2,000 students and apprentices annually across more than 60 courses and Apprenticeship standards.
City College’s Apprenticeship lead and Executive of Business Intelligence, Growth & Skills, Paul Fanshawe said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of skills development in Plymouth, supporting industries that are vital to the city’s future. Whether it’s through the Blue-Green Skills Hub or our expanding Apprenticeship provision, we are dedicated to delivering training that not only meets today’s demands but also prepares our region for the opportunities of tomorrow.”
From increased confidence, skills, knowledge and stories on how such opportunities have kick-started incredible careers in the city, to inspiring and informing future apprentices and matching candidates to businesses with real vision, Plymouth is showing its commitment to a better future by investing in talent for both those already living in Britain’s Ocean City and those looking to move there to pursue their ideal career by the sea.
Destination Plymouth Chairman, Richard Stevens, concludes: “This is an incredible city to live, work and study in, and we are really proud of how far we go to prove how much we value future talent and dedication.
“Plymouth offers a fantastic chance to explore options, both to potential apprentices and the array of businesses keen to meet them, inspire them and guide them throughout their career development in key sectors such as defence, health, marine industry and so much more.”
Key links and next steps
For more information around the Early Careers Fair for 2025, please visit: Early Careers Fair 2025
To find out more about the support available and latest apprenticeship opportunities in Plymouth visit: Skills Launchpad
For details about apprenticeships at University Hospitals Plymouth Trust, please visit: Apprenticeships | University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
For more details on Babcock’s apprenticeship opportunities, please visit: Apprenticeships · Babcock Early Careers
For information on the activity of City College Plymouth, please visit: City College Plymouth
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