9-15 February 2026
A week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Celebrate Apprenticeship Week 2026 with us as we showcase our talented ARU degree apprentices, graduates and partners through this year's theme: Skills for Life.
Follow and tag Degrees at Work on LinkedIn, Degrees at Work on Facebook, Degrees at Work on X or ARU Tiktok if you’d like to share your story using the hashtags #NAW2026, #SkillsforLife, and #ARUApprenticeships.
To date, over 7,800 apprentices have joined ARU.
5 campuses across the East and South East of England, and online.
Over 2,500 apprentices have graduated ARU with more than 3,000 awards.
Over 1,000 regional and national employers have chosen to partner with ARU on apprenticeships for our collaborative approach.
In 2023/24 68% of apprentices achieved a 1st or a 2:1.
We're proud to be the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023.
See how ARU apprenticeships are delivering real impact for employers, apprentices and communities in our Growing Together report.
When: Wednesday 11 February, 8.45am–12pm
Where: ARU Cambridge
Join us as we launch ARU’s new Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship. Hear practical employer insights and discover our new partnership with Get Synergised.
When: Monday 2 and Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am-3pm
Where: ARU Peterborough and ARU Cambridge
ARU welcomes your Year 11, 12 and 13 students to join us for one of our Degree Apprenticeship Discovery Days in the lead-up to National Apprenticeship Week 2026.
Hear from our apprentices, graduates and partners about how our apprentices are accessing higher education in ways they never imagined possible, and how our partner employers are securing future talent to support their businesses.
Clinical Lead Nurse Rob shares how ARU Nursing Degree Apprenticeships are strengthening teams at Boroughbury Medical Centre, developing talent from within and supporting high-quality patient care in primary care.
Charlea shares how ARU’s Nursing Degree Apprenticeship helped her progress to Registered Nurse, building clinical skills, confidence and real impact in primary care at Boroughbury Medical Centre.
Stefano shares how progressing his career with an Advanced Clinical Practitioner through an ARU apprenticeship has helped him build advanced skills at Boroughbury Medical Centre.
From Hospitality to Engineering: Emma’s Degree Apprenticeship Journey
Read Emma's blog
Police Constable Degree Apprentice Denzel Boachie talks about becoming a police officer.
Tegain shares her first year experience as a Construction Quantity Surveyor Degree Apprentice at ARU and Winvic.
Curtis explains how his Nursing Associate High Apprenticeship is enabling him to earn and learn through support from ARU and his employer North West Anglia Foundation Trust (NWAFT).
"A degree was something I'd always wanted to achieve, and I thought it would add value to my career. The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship route appealed to me because it offered in-depth knowledge that I could directly apply on the job, making me better at what I do."
DaniellePolice Constable Degree Apprentice
Danielle's story
"The apprenticeship has genuinely changed my life, and to have an employer like Kier who are so supportive and have the right tools to shape me to become the right person for the job. When I first applied, I had a feeling it would be a really good opportunity, but now I’m here, I realise that It has been the best decision I’ve ever made."
RoisinConstruction Management Degree Apprentice
Roisin's story
“ARU is a university that completely understands business. The apprentices at Rhotic Media have absolutely succeeded and have made a material difference to the business.”
JoeFounder, Rhotic Media
“I'm in my fifties and the apprenticeship works for me and fits around my family life. To work and earn a salary whilst learning is the perfect balance. It's also great to know that I can apply my studies from the apprenticeship directly into the organisation I work for.”
RachelRegistered Nurse Degree Apprentice
“Apprenticeships allow us to develop our own workforce, engage in their experience and employ and retain the best people around the country. 90% of our apprentices have stayed with us, which is a real testament to the training they receive from CUH and the learning they receive from ARU.”
DanLead Nurse, Cambridgeshire University Hospitals
“The apprenticeship supports our team to achieve our overall business goals and our apprentice in achieving her career goals. It means we can keep her within the team and help her to grow.”
EmmaBranding Specialist, Big Bear Creative
“Apprenticeships are extremely beneficial to our business as we have access to good quality, in-depth training that is targeted to our staff’s development and our business needs."
TimIT Director, Minerva Analytics Ltd
"The apprenticeship allows me to see how business works in real life. I get a lot of knowledge from the course that I can apply in practice at work and equally learn from my colleagues. With an apprenticeship, you can really recognise how to apply the knowledge you've learnt to the real world.”
IzabelaDigital Marketer
“I was diagnosed with dyslexia and was not confident to go to university. However, since starting the apprenticeship, ARU and CUH have been so supportive and have really helped with my confidence. The opportunity to do an apprenticeship really came at the right time and I couldn't be prouder of myself for just stepping my foot in the door and going for it.”
FleurRegistered Nurse Degree Apprentice
Ben Crossley, ARU Degree Apprentice and Engineer at Essex Highways, and Ginevra Viscariello, Learning & Development Advisor at Ringway Jacobs Ltd, share how apprenticeships deliver long-term benefits to both the apprentice and the organisation.
Find out why apprenticeship programmes have increasingly become a strategic asset for companies
Ben’s story demonstrates how apprenticeships can be transformative, offering real-world experience alongside academic achievement.
Find out why how apprenticeships are more than just a pathway to a degree
For Ginevra Viscariello, Learning & Development Advisor at Ringway Jacobs, apprenticeships are a powerful tool for shaping the future - both for individuals and for the organisation.
Read why apprenticeships are the ultimate investment in talent
Embark on an exciting new career, or develop your skills and future potential with your current employer.
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An innovative approach to developing future-ready talent in your organisation.
Information for employers Explore our courses
We also offer a range of degree and higher apprenticeships, developed in partnership with regional employers and delivered from ARU Peterborough.
Information for aspiring apprentices Information about degree apprenticeships for employers
Explore our range of Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships at Writtle College.
Explore apprenticeships
Find out how apprenticeships can benefit your organisation and employees.
Access information for employers
See the current vacancies available from our Writtle partner employers.
"Learning on the job is what appeals to me the most." Jasmine, Arborist Apprentice
"Doing this apprenticeship has helped me gain the practical experience I need, whilst being in paid work. The mix of practical and classroom based work is well balanced to suit my job role." Emi, Animal Management Apprentice
“I worked on a dairy farm for four years. I really enjoyed learning about how the machines work mechanically and wanted to follow my grandad’s steps in engineering, while doing something I love.” Reuben, Land-Based Service Engineering Apprentice
