'We’re incredibly proud to be recognised,' childcare provider Busy Bees says as company is ranked among UK's top five apprenticeship employers

The organisation, which was founded in Staffordshire, is celebrating a double whammy honour after securing a top five spot in two of the prestigious apprenticeship rankings published by The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 and the Department for Education.

Busy Bees, which has outshined more than 600 organisations, is the only business to earn top five status in both rankings, reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazer in apprenticeship excellence and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of early years educators.

With more than 357 nurseries across the UK and around 1,200 apprentices currently in training, Busy Bees is investing in the future of early years education, with ambitious plans to increase apprentice recruitment by 18 per cent this year, in support of the government’s early years agenda.

The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 places Busy Bees at number four on the list of the nation’s top employers, recognised for its work in nurturing apprentices, driving inclusion and delivering meaningful career pathways.

Meanwhile, the Department for Education ranks the childcare provider at number five on its list of organisations delivering the best apprenticeship programmes - based on performance, impact and apprentice feedback. 

Charlotte Hutchings, group chief people officer at Busy Bees, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers, and ranking fourth and fifth is an honour and testament to our commitment to supporting and investing in future talent.

“Apprenticeships play a vital role at Busy Bees, helping us to welcome driven individuals who share our commitment to giving every child the best start in life. We would encourage anyone who is passionate about early years, ambitious and wants to make a difference to children’s lives to consider a Busy Bees apprenticeship. We’re truly proud of our apprentices who have such a positive impact on children’s learning and development.”

Busy Bees offers Level 2, 3 or 5 apprenticeships across the Early Years sector. Apprentices have the chance to gain recognised qualifications while gaining practical experience in creating a happy and safe environment where children can play and learn. 

Apprentices also have the chance to be a part of teaching Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, the UK’s only independently evaluated early years curriculum designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.