Celebrating national Apprenticeship Week 2026

It’s National Apprenticeship Week, and here at Empowering Employment, we’re celebrating the achievements of the people we support as they build skills, confidence, and experience through apprenticeships and the businesses who make this possible.

For several years, we’ve worked alongside Smart Training and Recruitment, our trusted delivery partner for Supported Apprenticeships, delivering programmes with a shared commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Take Helen, for example. Her customer service apprenticeship across Lily & Lime and The View helped her grow in confidence, learn how to work as part of a team, and gain valuable customer-facing skills. Today, Helen oversees the daily running of Lily & Lime café, applying everything she learned during her apprenticeship. Reflecting on her experience, she says:

‘What I enjoyed most was learning while working and getting support from people who had already completed their apprenticeships. I loved gaining new experiences, especially working in a café environment. This apprenticeship has really helped me grow into my current role, where I now oversee the daily running of Lily & Lime café in the library.’

James is another apprentice making great strides. Completing his Level 2 Warehouse apprenticeship at Voi Technology, he started with Health & Safety training and has already taken on responsibilities like becoming a fire warden. He shares:

‘Empowering Employment are very supportive, in terms of being by your side and supporting you with your work. Great sense of humour, and overall, very helpful.’

Helen and James’ stories show just how transformative apprenticeships can be. They not only build practical skills but also help people gain confidence, take on new responsibilities, and grow into roles where they can succeed.

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re proud to acknowledge the hard work of our apprentices and the businesses that help them thrive.