Engage - National Apprenticeship Week Edition 2026

Issue

11 I Spring 2026

Welcome to our latest edition of Engage

I’m pleased to introduce our first edition of Engage for 2026 –a year that has already started off extremely strongly for the Group and our employer partners.

This edition of Engage comes following National Apprenticeship Week and showcases everything our Colleges got up to over the course of the celebratory week in February, as well as our latest employer engagement activities.

We also started the new year on a high, with our Apprenticeships Team recently being presented with an Excellence in EPA plaque from awarding body, City & Guilds, acknowledging their dedication to helping our apprentices achieve high-level outcomes at their End-Point Assessments. This achievement set the tone for another successful year, as we set out to increase our overall student achievement rates once again with our new cohort of apprentices.

Our recent Construction Employer Forum also kicked off the new year, where we launched our brand-new Foundation Construction Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships offer a route for businesses like yourselves to harness new talent and a fresh perspective, providing you with a workforce that has the practical skills and qualifications you need today and in the future.

As the apprenticeship route is increasingly becoming a first-choice for school leavers, with Prospects reporting a 10% increase in popularity since 2022 (August 2025), it is important that we get our curriculum right. By adapting to industry skills shortages and tapping into employer insight, the Group aims to generate high-quality apprentices who address local and national skills priorities.

Our connection with our employers is a top priority as we continue to generate a seamless talent pipeline for the local and regional economy, so we thank you for your support and invite you to stay connected with us throughout 2026.

Chris Baker, Group Director of Apprenticeships, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

To find out more, call our friendly Apprenticeships Team on 01924 789469 or email apprenticeships@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk  Develop industry-relevant

Business and Skills Community Hub

With Wakefield named as a ‘prosperous’ city in Cities Outlook 2026, it’s more important to us than ever to continue to support skills development in the region to maintain this momentum.

The eleven cities identified in Cities Outlook 2026 saw substantial increases in their economic output and disposable income between 2013-2023 compared to the national average – with Wakefield amongst other major cities such as London, Brighton, Bristol and more locally, Barnsley.

As a training provider, the Group is committed to ensuring its college curriculum meets skills needs identified by employers and local authorities. This reflects the Group’s Strategic Goal 1, which is to “be a highly responsive and innovative organisation, recognised for delivering cutting-edge skills development in priority sectors.”

Despite the overall outlook on Wakefield’s progress over the last ten years being positive, Castleford town has some of the highest areas of deprivation, particularly for Education, Skills & Training (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2025), with 19.7% of the population of 16–64 year-olds without qualifications compared to the national average of 12.4% (ONS, 2022).

Whilst developing our curriculum in partnership with local and regional employers and industry experts is crucial to meeting this strategy, we identified a gap in our approach. How are we reaching people, beyond school leavers, who need skills and business support but don’t know where to look for it?, particularly in the Castleford area?

In February 2026, we launched our brand-new Business and Skills Community Hub in partnership with Wakefield First, part of Wakefield Council, situated in Castleford Market, offering free business support to the community.

The Group held a grand opening ceremony for the Hub with Wakefield First on Friday 27th February, joined by Foreign Secretary and Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford & Knottingley, Yvette Cooper, Wakefield Council and local employers.

Monday to Friday (closed Wednesday afternoons) 9am - 4:30pm

It aims to support those seeking business advice around start-ups, branding and marketing, strategy and funding or those considering pathways to upskill.

Staff from the Group, Wakefield First and Step-Up will be available in the Hub to provide free expert advice to help individuals and businesses navigate their careers and skills needs. Beginning with a six-month pilot, the project hopes to grow into a long-term project to support the local economy in the Wakefield district.

Whether you’re a student exploring career pathways, an employer looking to develop your future workforce, someone seeking new skills or employment or a member of the community wanting to connect with local opportunities – this is your space.

Our vision is simple: to remove barriers, bring people together and to make access to skills, training, jobs, apprenticeships and business engagement easier for the Wakefield district than ever before.

Debbie Lee, Employer Engagement Manager at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

National Apprenticeship Week 2026

This year, we celebrated National Apprenticeship Week from February 9th-15th, highlighting the positive impact apprenticeships make to people, businesses and the wider economy. The Group and its Colleges spent the week shining a spotlight on the benefits of apprenticeships across our social media channels and at various events.

Monday 9th February Selby College Open Event

Selby College held an Apprenticeship-themed Open Event on Monday evening which invited prospective students and their families into the College to learn about the courses on offer and explore the campus. The Apprenticeships Team were on hand throughout the evening and delivered a talk for those interested in pursuing the apprenticeship route.

Tuesday 10th February

Employers’ Breakfast at Wakefield Trinity

On Tuesday, we held an Employers’ Breakfast at Wakefield Trinity, which proved to be a productive and engaging morning. Presentations were delivered by Chris Baker, Director for Apprenticeships at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, and Debbie Lee, Employer Engagement Manager at the Group.

Philip Parker, Director at InspirED; Emma Gregory, Matron for Professional Development and Education at the Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust and Laura Lavender, Director of Inclusion at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, also led an insightful Q&A on widening participation in apprenticeships, with attendees contributing valuable questions that helped create a highly fruitful discussion.

Wednesday 11th February Wakefield College & Castleford College Open Events

By mid-week, it was time for the second round of Open Events - this time at Wakefield College and Castleford College concurrently. Once again, apprenticeships were the highlight of the evening with an Apprenticeships Talk taking place, as well as a stand set up where those interested could learn about the opportunities available at the respective Colleges.

Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th February School Visits

Our School Partnerships and Apprenticeships Team also visited schools throughout the week, including Brigshaw High School’s Careers Event, talking to pupils about the apprenticeship opportunities available to them.

Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s Apprenticeship Awards 2026

On Thursday evening, the Group hosted its Annual Apprenticeship Awards ceremony, celebrating apprentices, mentors and employers across the Group.

Hosted at Wakefield Trinity RLFC’s Belle Vue stadium, the Group’s Annual Apprenticeship Awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of apprentices and mentors from the Group, as well as the contributions of its employer partners to apprenticeships.

Eight accolades were presented throughout the event by the Apprenticeships Team and sponsors. An ‘Apprentice of the Year’ was acknowledged within each subject area, with each receiving a certificate, ‘personalised trophy’ and voucher.

This year, the award ceremony hosted a raffle for the guests with the funds raised going to the SHINE – a charity that supports children and young people in hundreds of schools across the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humber. A total of £300 was raised by attendees of the awards ceremony and wider college communities. Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE, thanked those who donated and delivered a speech about the work the charity does to unlock barriers to learning for children across the region.

Meet Our Award Winners!

Business, Professional & Enterprise Apprentice of the Year

Engineering & Motor Vehicle Apprentice of the Year

Construction Apprentice of the Year (Sponsored by West Yorkshire Windows)

Aiste Owen Kier

Job: Secretary at The Kakoty Practice Apprenticeship: Level 5 Operations Management

I was already working before starting my apprenticeship, but I knew that I wanted to build more skills and knowledge for the future. The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has been so supportive throughout my apprenticeship, and my tutor is a great source of encouragement. Thanks to their support, I have graduated with my diploma.”

Large Employer of the Year

Schneider Electric

Job: Apprentice Pipefitter at GS-Hydro Apprenticeship: Level 3 Engineering Fitter

I have been an Apprentice Pipefitter for four years. I began by completing my Level 2 in Mechanical Engineering and have now progressed onto Level 3. I have developed a wide range of practical skills, including pipefitting, setting up pumps, testing pressure and using lifting equipment. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship, it’s the best way forward.”

Winning the Large Employer of the Year is a significant achievement, highlighting our commitment in developing talent and creating a supportive environment for apprentices. The relationship we have with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is very unique because they are providing the future of our organisation – which is the apprentices. The partnership helps us to bring more talent and new people to the business.”

New Partnership of the Year

Yorkshire Garden Centres Group Ltd

As a diverse organisation with departments including retail, catering and administration, it was important for us to work with a provider that offers a wide range of apprenticeships. The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group does exactly that. We have built a great relationship with the Group in which we feel supported through every stage of the process. I would recommend the apprenticeship route to other businesses as apprenticeships have allowed us to spot talent early and nurture it through training and experience.”

Job: Apprentice Bricklayer at Complete Property Revival

Apprenticeship: Level 2 Bricklayer

I’m over the moon to have won the award and proud that my hard work and dedication have been recognised. I’ve learnt a lot about the construction industry since starting my apprenticeship and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m currently working on my apprenticeship End Point Assessment and I want to stay working in the industry.”

Small to Medium Employer of the Year (Sponsored by Drax)

Micra Truck Bodies Ltd

We have worked with the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group for over twenty years and during that time, we have brought countless apprentices through the business. One of our longest serving apprentices joined us fifteen years ago, gradually working his way up through the company. Apprenticeships offer these strong progression routes.”

Mentor of the Year

Christina Nicholson

Morgan Sindall Property Services

I have developed a strong relationship the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, working closely with them for around five years. As I have completed an apprenticeship myself, I understand the support required as a line manager for the apprentices. I am really happy that I have been recognised for the guidance I have provided to my apprentices.”

What’s new in Employer Engagement

Digital Industries’ Careers Week at Wakefield College

The Digital Industries department at Wakefield College hosted a jampacked Careers Week in February, full of insightful sessions led by industry leaders in digital design, web development and games design.

For the Games Design students, 20 digital industry employers, including Epic Games, Supermassive Games and Double Eleven, were involved in delivering workshops and presentations throughout the week which spanned animation, gameplay programming, visual storytelling, portfolio building and more. These sessions provided insight into careers, as well as best practice tips to help guide the students as they approach their final projects of the year.

Digital Design & Website Development students also participated in a week of industry-focused activities including visits from professionals across freelance, UI, content creation and marketing roles. The industry professionals spoke to students about careers in the Creative Industry and practical guidance to help them make their next steps after studying at college.

Additionally, second-year students had the chance to take part in a live interview, submitting a CV and cover letter for a real placement opportunity with We Take Flight.

“Our annual Careers Week within the Digital Industries department gives our students an enormous insight into the industry from experts in the field. It was great to see our students enthusiastically engage with all the sessions and hopefully they can take their learnings and apply them to their own projects, as well as considering their career paths once they leave College.”

Rob Charlish, Head of Computing & Digital Industries

Polypipe Building Products College Roadshows

Polypipe Building Products visited Castleford College and Selby College as part of their College Roadshows at the beginning of the year. Construction students across the Colleges participated in training sessions and a practical competition involving piping installation.

Polypipe Building Products, Technical Training Manager said he was impressed by the students’ talent they exhibited,

particularly in the competition which ended in a tie-break due to the high-quality work produced by the students.

Graham Adams, Provisional Lead of Construction at Castleford College, said:

“Both students and teaching staff really enjoyed the visit from Polypipe Building Products. It was informative and the practical exercise got the students’ brains working. I look forward to next year.”

Your Future: Careers Week Recap

The Group hosted its yearly ‘Your Future’ Careers Week across its Colleges from Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 6th March , inviting local businesses, universities and training providers to exhibit to our 16-18 students. This year’s events saw 1,250 students visit the stalls to find out more about careers, courses and training programmes.

35 employers attended including the NHS, Morrisons, Triton Construction, Jet 2, HM Prison and Probation, Altrad and Gleeds, who introduced our students to early careers pathways into their preferred industries.

This marked a key week for the 16-18 students to begin thinking about their futures after college.

There were also 12 universities in attendance across the events, including the Group’s own University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, as well as University of York, University of Law, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Bradford, who spoke to students about progressing on to study at degree-level.

The fairs took place prior to the Group’s ‘Progression Week’, where students received subject-specific talks with their tutors around the progression routes available to them within the College, such as higher-level courses, university-level courses, apprenticeships and more.

Give Construction A Try – Inspiring the Next Generation of the Construction Industry

The Group recently hosted its sixth Give Construction A Try event, which saw over 200 Year 8 pupils and over 30 employers head to Castleford College to deliver and take part in interactive construction workshops. The event put the construction industry in the spotlight, highlighting the diversity of career routes for young people and giving them the opportunity to try something new.

Throughout the day, students rotated around employer workshops, getting stuck into different challenges and activities including project management, electrical installation, plumbing, plastering, tile work and more. One student commented: “This was the best day ever, can I come back next year?”

The event serves as a clear display of the promising construction opportunities for young people across the region, with companies in attendance including Hargreaves, Willmott Dixon, Caddick, Morgan Sindall Property Services, Vico Homes, Sigma, Wienerberger, Robertson, Illingworth & Gregory, BAM, Bowmer & Kirkland,

Boost Your Social Value by Partnering With Us

Give Construction a Try is just one of the many ways we work with employers to help boost their social value. By partnering with us, you can meet your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, whilst making a measurable impact in your community through a range of initiatives.

If you are looking to strengthen your social value commitments and build a future-ready workforce, get in touch with our Employer Engagement Team at: employerengagement@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk

APPRENTICESHIPS

An apprentice adds value across your organisation and directly contributes to your social value outputs.

Wates, Milestone, Tri-Tech, Marlborough, TransPennine Route Upgrade East Alliance, Meldrum Group, Equans, Keepmoat, Kier, Flannery, Korec Group, Cantidad, YIRTG, Building Futures, Consult DJH and Managing 2 Succeed.

Milestone, the headline sponsor for the event, said: “It was great to see the large variety of activities on display throughout the event. We hope the young people who took part came away feeling confident, inspired and excited for what a career in construction could look like for them.”

Debbie Lee, Employer Engagement Manager at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group said: “Our Give Construction A Try event connects employers to the future workforce, exhibiting all that the industry has to offer. It’s great that we can help spark curiosity amongst young people in the community by showing them the opportunities that await them and how they can get involved. It’s a truly inspiring event which would not be the same without the businesses who play such a huge role in helping to shape the next generation of talent.”

WORK EXPERIENCE AND INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS

You can make a real difference by offering a work placement or industry placement, building young people’s confidence whilst increasing your visibility and strengthening local connections.

ADDRESS SKILLS GAPS

Through tailored training, Apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps, we can help you develop both new recruits and existing staff - reducing recruitment pressure and growing specialist capability.

VISITS AND TALKS

You can offer a site visit, be a guest speaker in the classroom, provide a workshop or even an online activity.

SHAPE FUTURE TALENT

Work with us to influence curriculum design, ensuring learners develop the skills your sector needs. Gain early access to motivated, work-ready candidates.

It’s Award Season!

We’re delighted to be named finalists in several categories at the 2026 Educate North Awards, including the Business Engagement Award, the Innovation Award for our Carbon Capture & Storage programme, the STEM Award, and more. These nominations highlight our strong employer partnerships and the impactful work taking place across the organisation.

The Group has also been shortlisted across a number of categories at the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, including the Training Provider of the Year, Construction Apprentice of the Year (Complete Property Revival), Engineering/Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year (Owen Parsons, GS-Hydro), and Professional Services Apprentice of the Year (Aiste Sarvaite, The Kakoty Practice).

Acknowledging our sustainability journey, the Group is also delighted have been a finalist for the Sustainable Business Award at the Goole & Howdenshire Business Awards.

Celebrating Sustainability Week

We recently marked Sustainability Week across the Group and were excited to deliver a range of activities that highlighted and strengthened our ongoing commitment to sustainability. From community wardrobes and a Big Bird Watch to grass-seed gardening, recycled crafts, sustainable innovation challenges and repurposing workshops, staff and students embraced hands-on learning that brought sustainability to life.

This included our Alternative Curriculum students who also repurposed recycled materials into handmade vases, which they delivered to small businesses across Wakefield as a simple, sustainable gesture of thanks and community support.

Level Up Your Sustainability Learning

As an employer, you have free access to the Supply Chain Sustainability School - an industry-led platform offering thousands of CPD-accredited resources, training sessions and tools to help you upskill your workforce and stay ahead of sustainability expectations.

From carbon reduction and retrofit to social value, waste and offsite construction, the School provides high-quality learning designed by major industry partners - all at no cost.

As part of Heart of Yorkshire’s partnership with the School, we can support you to get started and make the most of what’s available.

Learners Begin Classes in New Construction Building

Our brand-new, industry-standard Construction facility is now open, with learners already settling into their first classes. This major investment enhances our Construction provision and offers students high-quality spaces that support real industry skills and future career paths.

Named after the roman fort in Castleford, the Lagentium building features modern classrooms, including a digital suite equipped with technologies used across today’s construction sector. The ground floor also provides an open, practical workshop designed for hands-on learning in wood occupations.

“It’s our first lesson in the new building and I’m impressed with the new facilities. Everything looks shiny and we are looking forward to working here.”

Jake

Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery student