Our Sponsors

With over 31,000 students from over 100 countries, we’re a large and diverse university set in the heart of Birmingham with a focus on practice-based learning.

Over 1400 apprentices are undertaking higher and degree level apprenticeships with BCU, while working in a paid full-time job. They are gaining real experience on the job, and their employers pay the tuition fees. BCU’s overall qualification achievement rate is higher than the national average meaning that more apprentices that study with BCU successfully complete and achieve their qualification

For more information visit: Birmingham City University

City & Guilds – a global leader in skills development

City & Guilds supports businesses with all aspects of skills development and training. Whether you are large private or public sector employer, they can provide you with solutions and ongoing support that you can trust will deliver you the best for your business.

City & Guilds partner with customers to deliver work-based learning programmes that build competency, to support better prospects for people, organisations and wider society. They create flexible learning pathways that support lifelong employability, believing that people deserve the opportunity to (re)train and (re)learn again and again – gaining new skills at every stage of life, regardless of where they start

For more information visit: City & Guilds

People Plus is the founder of the Social Recruitment Covenant and facilitator of the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG). A recognised authority in inclusive hiring and social value delivery, People Plus partners with employers, government bodies, and community organisations to create pathways into sustainable employment.

The organisation helps businesses access skills funding, implement workforce development programmes, and deliver measurable impact through social recruitment. With a nationwide presence, People Plus champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in the labour market—supporting individuals from all backgrounds to gain the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive in work and contribute to society.

For more information visit: People Plus

The Open University (OU) is a global leader in higher education able to reach every adult in the United Kingdom – and many others across the world.

The OU has been transforming students’ lives and delivering high standards of education for over half a century.

It offers Higher Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships across the UK delivered by blended learning, to allow greater flexibility for employers and apprentices.

The OU apprenticeships provision comprises healthcare, policing, social work, digital, systems thinking, management and leadership in England, and digital and IT programmes in Scotland and Wales.

For more information visit: The Open University

The St Martin’s Group is a unique membership organisation created to support the UK economy by fostering a sustainable, quality-focused and employer-led apprenticeship and skills system.

Launched in 2018, the Group brings together stakeholders from some of the UK’s leading employers, training providers and awarding organisations from across all sectors and levels of qualification, which together are representative of the UK’s delivery infrastructure. Since 2021, with encouragement from key stakeholders, the Group has expanded its aims to include the wider adult funded skills market.

These efforts will ensure the Group and its members are able to promote increasing collaboration and engagement in the sector for the benefit of all stakeholders.

For more information visit: St Martin’s Group

UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK’s shared admissions service for higher education.

UCAS services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or a degree apprenticeship.

UCAS supports 1.5 million students every year to explore entering higher education, employment and apprenticeships and manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.

UCAS also provides a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies, and employers, including apprenticeships.

For more information visit: UCAS

Unifrog’s mission is to level the playing field when it comes to young people finding the best opportunities for them, having a positive social impact before anything else.

Unifrog is the universal destinations platform. They help students compare every university course, every apprenticeship, and Further Education courses – then apply successfully.

Supporting students to find the best next step for them –  the Unifrog platform helps students with the whole progression process – from exploring their interests, to recording the great things they’ve done, to finding education and training opportunities, to drafting their applications.

Unifrog also helps teachers and counsellors to manage the process – from delivering engaging lessons using off-the-shelf teaching resources, to tracking careers interactions, to drafting References, to submitting applications.

For more information visit: Unifrog

ePact provides technology solutions for the education, skills and training sector. Its Envelope platform combines MIS and CRM functionality to help organisations manage learners, programmes, funding and compliance.

Working with education and training providers and levy-paying employers, ePact supports the management of apprenticeships, adult education and other funded learning programmes. Its technology helps organisations reduce administration, improve reporting and make better use of their data. (ePact | Software Solutions)

For more information visit: ePact

University of Staffordshire is one of England’s largest providers of higher and degree apprenticeships, combining academic learning with practical experience in the workplace.

Since 2015, more than 6,300 apprentices have studied with the University, working in partnership with 499 employers across the public and private sectors. Its apprenticeship provision spans areas including healthcare, policing, digital technologies, engineering and professional services, helping employers upskill existing staff and recruit new talent. (University of Staffordshire)

For more information visit: University of Staffordshire

The School Outreach Company is a UK provider connecting employers, schools and students, delivering outreach programmes, careers education and employability support to create inclusive pathways into employment.

For more information visit: The School Outreach Company

Support Connect is a founding member of the Association of Apprentices who are supporting earn and learn employees across the UK to overcome the barriers they face due to physical, health or neurodivergent conditions, as well as empowering employers and their support staff with the knowledge, strategies and tools to create truly inclusive environments.

With an experienced team of learning and wellbeing Needs Assessors, Mentors and Assistive Technology Trainers, support needs are identified by medical or diagnosed evidence or through their digital neurodiversity screener, followed by a needs assessment and Support Plan to determine and recommend reasonable adjustments, assistive technology training, online resources or one-to-one learning and wellbeing Mentor support.

Support Connect provides informative and educational pathways that deliver immediate support for long-term impact, providing neuroinclusive training for your support staff and mentoring for your earn and learn employees.

For more information visit: Support Connect

Inclusive Futures is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company working to create a more inclusive society where individuals are empowered to realise the future that is right for them.

The organisation works with young people to build confidence and help them make informed choices about their futures, while supporting organisations to create more inclusive and impactful workplaces. Profits from its work with organisations are used to support social mobility programmes for young people from groups underrepresented in higher education. (Inclusive Futures, Bristol)

For more information visit: Inclusive Futures

On The Tools is the UK’s largest online construction community, connecting, informing and empowering tradespeople across the country.

Through its digital and social channels, On The Tools gives tradespeople a platform to share their experiences and views, alongside news, information and content covering the issues affecting people working across construction. (onthetools.tv)

For more information visit: On The Tools