BAE Systems has been named England’s top apprenticeship employer in the latest government-backed rankings, as ministers seek to increase the number of young people entering paid training routes.
The Department for Work and Pensions published the annual Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers for 2026 in partnership with the careers platform Higherin. The rankings recognise organisations judged to be delivering strong apprenticeship programmes and helping to develop skilled workers across the economy.
BAE Systems, the defence and security company, was placed first in the main employer list. Network Rail and Lloyds Banking Group were also among the 150 businesses named across the two rankings. LJ Construction Carpentry Contractors Ltd was named the leading small and medium-sized enterprise apprenticeship employer.
The publication comes alongside a renewed government focus on apprenticeships for younger workers. Ministers have said they want to create 50,000 new apprenticeship places for young people, after a reported 40% decline in apprenticeship starts among 16 to 24-year-olds.
Apprenticeships combine paid employment with formal training and nationally recognised qualifications. They are used across sectors including engineering, construction, manufacturing, digital services, transport, finance and public services. For employers, the route is intended to help build a pipeline of workers with practical skills. For young people, it can provide an alternative to full-time academic study while offering direct workplace experience.
The government said the rankings are designed to show the range of employers offering structured career routes through apprenticeships, from large national organisations to smaller local firms. It has also linked the apprenticeship agenda to wider plans to address skills gaps in priority sectors and improve productivity.
As part of its reforms, the government is changing the Growth and Skills Levy to give employers more flexibility over training investment. Ministers have also pointed to funding incentives of up to £8,000 for each young apprentice, as well as additional support for smaller businesses taking on apprentices.
The government describes the changes as the most significant reform of the system in a decade. Its stated aim is to ensure public and employer funding is directed towards training that meets labour market needs, while making it easier for businesses to recruit and retain young workers.
A particular focus is being placed on foundation apprenticeship units in sectors including construction, engineering and manufacturing, and digital. These are intended to provide entry-level routes into industries where employers have warned of shortages in skilled labour.
Tania Gandamihardja, group human resources director at BAE Systems, said the company was honoured to be named the top apprenticeship employer in England. She said apprenticeships were an important way of bringing people into the workforce and widening access to opportunities.
She added that apprentices were “an incredibly important part” of the BAE Systems team and said the ranking reflected the company’s commitment to its programme.
Ryan Jones, director of LJ Construction Carpentry Contractors Ltd, said the firm was proud to be named the leading SME apprenticeship employer. He said apprenticeships were central to the company’s approach and helped young people gain the skills needed to build a career in construction.
He also said the construction sector faced a significant skills challenge and cited the company’s retention of apprentices from previous years as evidence of the value of a structured programme.
The rankings were compiled using three equally weighted measures. These were apprentice achievements, including completion volumes and achievement rates; employer commitment, including the scale and breadth of programmes, the number of young apprentices, cohort diversity and the proportion of employees who are apprentices; and reviews submitted by apprentices about their experience.
The inclusion of both large employers and SMEs is intended to reflect different routes into work across the economy. While major employers can offer large-scale programmes and multiple career pathways, smaller businesses often provide direct trade or sector-specific training in local labour markets.
The full Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers lists for 2026 have been made available through the Top Apprenticeship Employers publication. The government is expected to continue using the rankings as part of its wider effort to encourage more employers to take on apprentices and expand training opportunities for younger workers.
