Herts named finalist in 2026 Apprenticeship Guide Awards
The Apprenticeship Guide Awards celebrate the very best in UK apprenticeships - highlighting employers, training providers and programmes that deliver exceptional quality, strong learner outcomes and meaningful workforce impact. Being named a finalist places Herts among the top apprenticeship providers in the country.
The news coincides with National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (NAW26), which runs from today until 15 February, and celebrates the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, employers and the wider economy. This year’s theme - Skills for Life - highlights how apprenticeships help people of all ages build the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed throughout their careers.
Transforming healthcare through apprenticeships
The University’s submission showcased the University’s full portfolio of Nursing and Allied Health programmes, with a spotlight on our Speech and Language Therapy Degree Apprenticeship as an example of innovative, collaborative practice that delivers real change for learners, employers and patients.
In the past year alone, more than 600 healthcare apprentices have trained with Herts across multiple NHS Trusts and private providers. The University’s programmes are built on inclusive, research informed teaching and strong clinical partnerships, helping to address regional workforce shortages and strengthen the future NHS workforce across the East of England.
Celeste Jones, Associate Director of Apprenticeships at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
“Being shortlisted in the 2026 Apprenticeship Guide Awards is a wonderful acknowledgement of the outstanding work of our teams, partners and learners. Our nursing and allied healthcare apprenticeships represent a national benchmark for collaborative, high impact healthcare education. We are not only training clinicians; we are shaping the future of the NHS workforce through inclusive, research led and practice driven learning. Our programmes empower learners, support workforce sustainability, and improve patient care through every apprentice we support.”‑impact healthcare education. We are not only training clinicians; we ‑led and practice‑driven learning. Our programmes empower learners, support workforce sustainability, and improve patient care through every apprentice we support.”
The life-changing impact of apprenticeships
Dr Charmagne Barnes, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
“Apprenticeships change lives. They provide people with genuine opportunity, real-world experience and a pathway into careers they may never have believed were possible. What we see every day at Herts is the transformational power of learning while working – apprentices grow in confidence, capability and ambition, and employers benefit from the skills and energy they bring. Being recognised in these awards highlights just how vital apprenticeships are for our region and our NHS partners, and we’re incredibly proud of the impact our learners continue to make.”
The winners of the 2026 Apprenticeship Guide Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in Leeds on 30 April 2026.
Find out more about events taking place at the University of Hertfordshire for NAW26 or about studying an apprenticeship at Herts.