National Apprenticeship Week is a time to celebrate and champion the importance of skills – within our business and across the wider labour market. As the world of work continues to evolve, investing in people has never been more important.
Within our business, we’re committed to creating opportunities for colleagues to develop, progress and build meaningful careers through inclusive learning and skills development.
Apprenticeships that open doors
Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of our approach to learning and development. Expanding our apprenticeship offer is about ensuring that learning, growth and career progression are accessible to everyone, at every stage of their career, while navigating the realities of eligibility and the funding disparities that come with being a cross-border employer.
This year, we reached a milestone that reflects both the scale of our ambition and the dedication of our people: more than 5% of our UK workforce is now actively engaged in an apprenticeship across England, Scotland and Wales. We’re also seeing more than 100 colleagues complete their programmes every year, a clear reflection of their determination and of our commitment to continuous development.
Our apprenticeship strategy continues to accelerate. Completions have increased by 135% year-on-year, over 250 colleagues are currently active learners, and our Apprenticeship Levy investment has grown by around 150%. This growth enables us to reinvest more than ever into building capability, future skills and long-term progression across the business.
What makes this progress truly meaningful is the individuality of every journey. No two apprenticeship experiences look the same, and that diversity of pathway is one of our greatest strengths.
Today, 31% of our apprentices identify as being from an ethnic minority background, and 11% have disclosed a disability and are receiving tailored support to help them thrive. These figures reinforce our belief that development should be inclusive, accessible and genuinely life-changing.
None of this would be possible without the incredible colleagues who put their energy into developing themselves, and the managers who consistently champion their growth. I feel genuinely privileged to witness their journeys first-hand, seeing people grow in confidence, step into new skills and take meaningful strides forward in their careers.
Innovating to break barriers
We innovate to remove barriers to learning, from creating a more flexible and equitable offer in Scotland through university partnership, to helping healthcare practitioners develop new skills and careers. By gifting unused Levy to SMEs, we’re boosting social value and supporting smaller employers to grow. And we’re using our apprenticeship expertise to help other organisations expand their reach and impact.
Celebrating our people
National Apprenticeship Week is a chance to celebrate the incredible impact apprenticeships have across Maximus, not just for individual learners, but for our business and the communities we serve.
It’s a moment to recognise the hard work, dedication and ambition of colleagues at every stage of their journey, and to acknowledge the managers and teams who champion their growth every day. Each year we grow. Each year we do more. And each year, our colleagues continue to show what’s possible when opportunity, ambition and support come together.
