Apprenticeships aren’t just about the apprentice. It’s important for employers too. They have to decide if it’s financially viable to employ an apprentice, and there are often barriers to employers finding apprentices and supporting them through their training.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week we spoke to Leanne Land, Head of the New Entrant Support Team (NEST) at the Construction Industry Training Board, to get some of her advice for employers and apprentices, and find out more about the great work the NEST team are doing, supporting employers through the recruitment process.
What’s your top tip for prospective apprentices?
Leanne: “It's about being resilient. You're not going to be just handed an apprenticeship. It's down to the applicant and is definitely not just the employer's responsibility. The young person has to show that they're hardworking and eager – that's what employers are looking for. They're not necessarily looking for qualifications or skills, but somebody who is going to come in and be loyal and work hard and show that they've got something about them.”
What is so valuable about apprenticeships?
Leanne: “I think apprenticeships are first class. Not everybody wants to stay on in education, and I think the confidence that an apprenticeship brings to an individual is invaluable. It doesn't just have to be about young people either – apprenticeships are for all ages. In addition to the valuable skills they gain, it's a huge confidence boost to that young person that they can do it, they can progress and they are capable. We see it every day and we see a lot of apprentices go on to set up their own businesses.”
What can employers get out of recruiting an apprentice?
There is obviously a financial aspect to employing apprentices, but many companies are willing to pay an apprentice a salary with the knowledge that they are making an investment in the individual. The skills the apprentice will develop will benefit the construction industry in the long term, and the apprentice may secure a permanent job with the employer at the end of the apprenticeship. In fact, that is often why companies recruit apprentices in the first place.
Leanne: “There’s a huge benefit to the employer, such as bringing fresh perspectives into their organisation. A lot of apprentices are extremely eager, they understand modern ways of working and new technology. Many businesses come forward to us and say, ‘this has really benefited my organisation and brought so many new ideas’.”
The NEST team at CITB help employers in the construction industry by making them aware of the grants that are available to companies, putting them in touch with training providers and providing support and mentoring through the apprenticeship training programme.
Leanne: “We've been working with the industry for a few years now and the feedback we get from all employers is: ‘Without this support, I wouldn't have known where to go for a training provider and where to start sourcing an applicant’.”
More and more employers are being helped by NEST
New figures released by CITB show how much the New Entrant Support Team is helping employers recruit apprentices.
Between April and December 2025, NEST supported 4,572 new apprenticeships, over a thousand more than the previous year (an increase of 30%). 8,054 employers engaged with NEST in that same period, a rise of 40%. NEST helps employers access key funding like the £2,500 attendance grant (per year, per apprentice) and £3,500 achievement grant.
National Apprenticeship Week
During National Apprenticeship Week (9-15 February 2026) events will be taking place across the country, in person and online. There’ll be the chance to find out about the benefits of apprenticeships, get insights from real apprentices, and for employers to learn more about how they can make the most of apprenticeships in order to grow their business.
Learn more about apprenticeships with Go Construct
Find out about what’s happening during National Apprenticeship Week near you, and learn more about the 170 different careers available in construction. Individuals can also create a profile on Go Construct Careers to view current apprenticeship opportunities.