'Apprenticeships are an excellent pathway into work': Council skills chief urges people to find out more about opportunities during National Apprenticeship Week
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, a variety of events have been laid on across Wolverhampton to showcase the benefits apprenticeships can bring to individuals, employers and the economy.
The national initiative, running all this week until Sunday (February 15), aims to celebrate apprentices and showcase the many different apprenticeships on offer to help people gain vital industry skills to boost the business community and their own career opportunities.
The theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2026 is ‘Skills for Life’ with the aim to help apprentices develop career pathways and secure permanent positions.
Various events for people interested in apprenticeship opportunities will take place throughout the week.
A drop-in event hosted by Wolves at Work, offering people the chance to chat to training providers, will take place at the i10 employment hub - in the city centre’s transport Interchange – on Victoria Square, between 10am and 2pm on Thursday (February 12).
Wolverhampton Council’s apprenticeships team will also be in the Civic Centre foyer area on Wednesday (February 11) from 9.30am to 2pm, to offer guidance and support to Wolverhampton residents looking to apply for work experience or apprenticeship opportunities.
Councillor Chris Burden, cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills at Wolverhampton Council, described apprenticeships as "an excellent pathway into work" and he added: "I would urge people to come along to the events taking place during next week to find out more about apprenticeships and what’s on offer to them.
“We are determined to give people in our city the best chances we can, whether this is through apprenticeships, helping them into employment or supporting them to improve skills and gain qualifications.
“There is also help available through our city colleges, university, employment services and through our dedicated Workbox website which offers free, one-to-one employment support and advice for local people.”
In 2025 the council recruited 30 new apprentices across various council service areas and maintained schools, including roles in housing, occupational therapy, trading standards, health and wellbeing, legal, finance, aboriculture, procurement and city investment.
Jasmeen Kaur, health and safety apprentice Level 3 at Wolverhampton Council, said she would "recommend an apprenticeship to anybody" - even those without English and maths qualifications.
She said people "just need motivation", adding: “I got a lot of help and support from my work coach from Wolves at Work. She helped me with my CV, applications, interviews and gave me a lot of resources to prepare for interviews. Once I got the apprenticeship I had a lot of support from my team, teachers and training providers."
The council says there are hundreds of types of apprenticeships on offer at different levels with employers in Wolverhampton.
Richard Hewitt, assistant principal for business and growth at Wolverhampton College, said: "Apprenticeships are an ideal way for people to get into their career of choice by combining earning and learning, doing a real job for an employer and gaining the skills they need to work in their chosen industry - and, because they'll be doing a real job, they'll get paid too!
"The college offers apprenticeships in a range of subjects and has a team of recruitment offers to help people through the application process, as well as industry-experienced tutors and assessors to support apprentices and their employers throughout the training."
Apprenticeship qualifications currently available are: Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship (GCSE equivalent), Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship (A-Level equivalent), Level 4 or 5 Higher Apprenticeship (Foundation degree and above equivalent) and Level 6 or 7 Degree Apprenticeship (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree equivalent).
For details of available apprenticeships, and other work and training opportunities in the city, visit www.wolvesworkbox.com, call Wolves at Work on 01902 554400 or email wolvesatwork@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
