Apprenticeships
Overview
In 2024/25 colleges had 3,925 apprenticeship starts which was more than 5% lower than in the previous year, continuing the downward trend apparent since 2019/20.
The volumes of apprenticeship starts are roughly equally divided between apprentices in the WMCA areas and those living in the outer areas.
The total number of apprenticeship starts in the WMCA area dipped further by 6% in 2024/25 to 1,957 starts. The one-year drop in outer areas was slightly lower at 4.6%, resulting in 1,968 starts in the case of learners living in those areas.
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Data Narrative
Age
Under 19
In 2024/45 the proportion of apprenticeship starts in the under 19 age group was 51.7% (2,030 starts) carrying on the increasing proportion of apprentices in the lowest age group, which has increased year–on–year since 39% in 2019/20.
19-23
Starts for apprentices in the 19 to 23 age group declined slightly in 2024/25 to 1,018, accounting for 25% of all apprenticeship starts, carrying on the overall downward trend in this age category.
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Likewise, the proportion of apprenticeship starts for apprentices aged 24+ continues its slow downward trend and stood at 22% in 2024/25 (877 starts).
Level of Apprenticeship
Across all three levels (intermediate, advanced and higher), the largest proportion is advanced level apprenticeships which saw a growth in share each year to just under 55% in 2024/25.
Overall, higher level apprenticeships are declining proportionally the most rapidly over time. The volume of higher level apprenticeships fell by 73% over the five year period we have looked at, whereas advanced level apprenticeships fell by 40% over the same period.
Apprentices in the under 19 age group are roughly equally split across intermediate and advanced level apprenticeships.
Apprentices who are over 19 are most likely to be on an advanced level apprenticeship.
Technical Routes
- The four technical routes with the highest number of starts in 2024/25 are also those which have been the most popular over time.
- Construction and the Built Environment had 1,246 starts in 2024/25 which accounted for 31.8% of all starts. Despite the overall drop in apprenticeship starts over the past five years, the volume of construction starts remained stable.
- Engineering and Manufacturing had 831 starts in 2024/25 and was the second largest sector with 21.2% of all starts. The sharpest decline in engineering apprenticeship starts was in 2020/21 when start numbers fell to 786 from 2,403 in the previous year.
- Business and Administration starts totalled 482 (12.3% of starts), continuing the slow downward trend in volume and proportion over time.
- Health and Science had 473 starts in 2024/25 and was the fourth largest sector with 12.1% of starts, a slight increase on the previous year. Over time, starts in this sector remained relatively stable in terms of volume.
Inclusion Trends
Ethnicity
Over 80% of learners starting apprenticeships in 2024/25 were in the White broad ethnicity group. The proportion of White apprentices is dropping slowly over time from 87% in 2019/20 and correspondingly there were small incremental increases in the proportion of apprentices in the Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage broad groups.
As is the case with 16-19 and adult learners, there is more diversity in the profile of apprentices residing in the WMCA areas where in 2024/25 a quarter of apprentices identified as Black, Asian or Mixed Heritage, up from 21% in 2019/20. Across the whole region 15% of apprentices identified in these three groups, up from 12% in 2019/20.
The same trend is observed in all three age groups and there is slightly more diversity across apprentices aged over 19.
Sex
In 2024/25 almost two thirds of apprentices starting were male carrying on the trend where an increasing proportion of apprentices were male.
Males made up the majority of starts in the high-volume sectors of Construction and Engineering, while female learners had the majority of starts in Care, Early Years and Hair and Beauty
Disability, Learning Difficulty and Health Problems
The proportion of apprentices starting a programme who declare a disability, learning difficulty and/or health problem (LLDD) is rising over time and stood at 17% in 2024/25.
Deprivation Profile
The deprivation profile of apprentices starting a programme in 2024/25 shows slightly lower representation at the two lowest deprivation bands, a pattern that is evident in both the central WMCA areas and the outer areas of the West Midlands.