Keele celebrating lifelong impact of apprenticeships with National Apprenticeship Week events

A series of events to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026 at Keele University will shine a spotlight on the huge benefits and lifelong impacts of apprenticeships for both organisations and individuals. 

The theme of this year’s events, which take place between 9th and 13th February, is “Skills for Life”, celebrating the incredible opportunities that apprenticeships bring to individuals and organisations alike. 

The events taking place at Keele will showcase how the University's apprenticeship programmes support employers to build skilled, future-ready workforces. 

This year’s programme focuses on opportunities across a range of sectors like healthcare, environmental science, and data science, with a range of online and in person events celebrating the opportunities and benefits for both apprentices and organisations. 

As well as an employer breakfast for both existing and prospective apprenticeship employers to learn more about the benefits of providing apprenticeships and changes to funding, there will also be a range of online events including: 

• Monday 9th February 12:30pm – 1:30pm – Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Apprenticeships Webinar 

• Environmental Practitioner and Geoscientist Apprenticeships Webinar - Tuesday 10th February 2:00pm - 3:00pm 

• Thursday 12th February 08:30am – 11:00am – National Apprenticeship Week Employer Breakfast Event 

• Thursday 12th February 1:30pm – 2:30pm - Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery Apprenticeships Webinar 

A Data Scientist Apprenticeship Webinar will also be held on Wednesday 11th March between 1:00pm - 1:45pm  

Staffordshire-based charity Dougie Mac are one of the organisations that have benefitted from Keele apprentices. Gemma Pointon, Learning & Development Manager, said: "Accessing a range of apprenticeship programmes enables us to develop new talent while strengthening the skills of our existing workforce. By investing in continuous learning, we can enhance the quality of care we provide, this helps us to meet the needs of our community and service users."

Lou Taylor-Murison, Head of Apprenticeships and Partnership-based Learning at Keele, added: “National Apprenticeships Week is a great way to showcase the impact that apprenticeship training can have on individuals and add value to the workplace.  

“Our apprenticeship programmes support a range of staff from career entrants, those upskilling in work and those changing career. The personal and professional journeys that our learners go on and how success translates to the workplace are often inspirational and transformative. We will be celebrating these successes and helping others find out more about opportunities throughout the week.” 

To learn more about any of these events or to sign up, visit https://www.keele.ac.uk/apprenticeships/nationalapprenticeshipweek/nationalapprenticeshipweek2026/