Submitted by Alexandra Collett on Mon, 09/02/2026 - 09:00
National Apprenticeship Week takes place from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 February 2026.
The week shines a light on the positive impact apprenticeships have, not only for individuals, but also for teams, organisations, and the wider economy.
Apprenticeships have often been seen as training for young people leaving school, but apprenticeships are available for anyone of any age, and they range from entry level, right through to degree level qualifications.
At the University, colleagues can choose from a wide range of apprenticeships across many different disciplines, including facilities management, coaching, laboratory technicians, engineering, HR, management and many more. They offer a chance to grow professionally, gain recognised qualifications and apply new skills in day-to-day work.
Some colleagues, who have recently completed an apprenticeship, shared their experiences.
Hayley Osborne, HR Learning and Development Consultant recently completed a Level 5 Apprenticeship in Coaching said “I had been considering an apprenticeship for some time. While I felt confident in that my knowledge and understanding of leadership and management, I wanted to deepen my expertise in an area that aligned with my new Learning and Development role. Choosing Coaching Professional Level 5 felt like the perfect fit. I also wanted to challenge myself - having not studied since University, this felt like the right time to re-engage with learning and invest in my professional growth. I found the practical experience of completing an apprenticeship allowed me to build my confidence and capacity reasonably quickly.”
Leonie Isaacson, Learning & Development Consultant, was line managing Hayley at the time and said: “I see apprenticeships as a fantastic way for colleagues to grow professionally while adding value to the team and enabling the development of skills needed by the University.”
The University also offers Apprenticeships via recruitment route. Rosie Elizabeth James applied for an Apprenticeship at the Student Services Centre. She explains why she applied for an apprenticeship: “I wanted to start growing my career and an apprenticeship seemed like a good place to start. The University of Cambridge is renowned institution that could provide me with an apprenticeship experience that I would get a lot out of. To me it sounded like a fantastic opportunity.”
Andrew King, Operation Manager, Student Services Centre, line manages Rosie and explained how they recruited apprentices. "Education Services created an Apprentice Pathway Scheme in 2023 to provide school leavers with an alternative option to University. We initially hired 2 apprentices into Education Services, increasing this to an intake of 4. It has been really successful. From our 2023 cohort, both apprentices secured roles within Education Services. Our aspiration is to retain as much talent as possible and we’re lucky that Education Services has over 300 positions that provide lots of employment options for the apprentice.”
We also caught up with other Apprentices across the University, who shared their experiences.
Video created by Alexandra Collett
For more information on Apprenticeships at the University visit the Apprenticeship website.