Apprenticeships increase in popularity with employers, but uncertainty, capacity and policy hold back expansion
A study of over 600 senior decision makers in UK* mid‑market businesses from Grant Thornton UK has found that apprenticeships continue to play a central role in workforce planning for businesses in 2026.
An encouraging 76% of businesses view apprenticeships as important to their workforce strategy, with 33% seeing them as critical for closing skills gaps.
Demand for skills development through apprenticeships remains robust, with employers most eager to use programmes to strengthen digital and AI capabilities (35%), engineering and technical skills (34%), Customer service and soft skills (33%) and leadership and management skills (31%). These findings reflect an ongoing emphasis on technology adoption, future skills and people‑centred capability building across the UK mid‑market.
Whilst the report shows that appetite for apprenticeships remains high in the mid-market, perceived barriers to expanding opportunities include limited internal capacity for training, funding constraints, and administrative complexity, with almost one in five firms also highlighting uncertainty around changes in government policy.
Interestingly, when asked which models deliver the greatest value, less than 10% of respondents identified entry‑level apprenticeships and only 13.5% selected flexible apprenticeships, signalling a clear demand for pathways that better support talent development at all levels for a future‑ready workforce.
Commenting on the findings, Ruth Walsh, Partner and Head of Talent Solutions at Grant Thornton UK, said:
“Midsized businesses are continuing to recognise the value and impact of apprenticeships as part of a long-term, sustainable workforce strategy. At a time of rapid technological change and evolving skills needs, apprenticeships offer a practical and impactful route for employers to develop the capabilities their organisations need to thrive.
“The growing interest in higher and degree level programmes shows that businesses see apprenticeships not only as an entry-level pathway, but as a means to build advanced technical and leadership skills. Ensuring employers have the clarity, support and flexibility they need will be essential to unlocking the full potential of these programmes in the year ahead.”
*Censuswide on behalf of Grant Thornton UK surveyed 615 UK mid-market business leaders (revenue £50m to £1bn) in December 2025.