How Apprenticeships Are Powering the Next Generation of Skills

GUEST BLOG: In this contributed blog post Rhodri Arrowsmith, managing partner of IBM Consulting in the UK and Ireland, discusses the use of apprenticeships to develop a workforce with the artificial intelligence (AI) skills needed for the present and near future. 

As the UK enters a defining decade for AI, the conversation around skills has never been more important. The UK government’s recent focus on strengthening AI development and adoption recognises a simple truth: to realise the promise of AI, organisations need the right skills at scale. At the heart of this challenge sits the AI skills gap, one of the biggest barriers to productivity, innovation and sustainable growth.

Apprenticeships play a critical role in solving this. By combining structured education with real, on‑the‑job experience, they provide a practical route for people to develop future‑ready capabilities. More broadly, these roles are essential to building the workforce the UK needs for the AI era.

A proud legacy, with the future firmly in mind

In March 2026, the government announced the introduction of V‑level qualifications as part of a broader reform to make vocational and technical education easier to navigate. A central aim is to remove the long‑standing stigma between academic and technical routes, a shift that can only elevate the standing of apprenticeships and reinforce their position as a credible, high‑value pathway into skilled careers.

Apprentices and entry‑level talent are already an essential part of the modern workforce. As every sector is challenged to apply AI responsibly and effectively, organisations increasingly need people with the right blend of technical capability, business understanding and hands‑on experience. These are exactly the type of strengths developed through high‑quality apprenticeships and early‑career programmes.

Nowhere is this more critical than in the public sector, where technology underpins the systems people rely on every day. AI has the potential to make public services faster, smarter and more resilient but only if skill and capability are built into the foundation.

This is the kind of environment where apprentices and entry‑level talent thrive. Mission‑critical public sector programmes, such as the UK’s Emergency Services Network (ESN), which is modernising frontline communications across the country, demand rigour, discipline and a clear focus on public outcomes. They also provide apprentices with invaluable, real‑world experience as they build their careers.

IBM’s apprenticeship programmes run across consulting and many public sector governmental departments working on projects for the Department of Work and Pensions, HMRC to the NHS and ESN. As one of our apprentices at IBM, Amelie Appleby, delivery services project manager, recently shared: “Over the past year as a project manager on the Emergency Services Network programme, I’ve been able to take on real responsibility—leading the end‑to-end onboarding of the programme and working with key partners to support deployment across the project. My apprenticeship has given me the chance to contribute directly to a mission critical public sector project while continuing to learn and grow. IBM’s commitment to developing early career talent has empowered me to build confidence, gain ‑hands on‑ experience, and play an active role in shaping a positive, supportive culture within our team.”

The business case for apprenticeships is clear. Government‑backed research shows nearly eight in ten employers report improved productivity as a direct result of employing apprentices. Furthermore, a separate report found 90% of businesses surveyed agreed that degree-level apprentices are directly contributing to improved performance and closing critical skills gaps.

In 2025 alone, apprenticeships added over £120 million to the national bottom line alongside higher staff retention and better alignment of skills to business needs. This value is recognised at a national level. Under the Government’s Plan for Change, apprenticeships are central to economic growth. The Government is investing £725 million to create new apprenticeship opportunities tied to clean energy, infrastructure and technology, while supporting regional growth and tackling youth unemployment.

Preparing for the AI era

By 2030, millions of workers will require upskilling, often through non‑traditional routes. Apprenticeship programmes and entry-level programmes must evolve to meet that need focusing on roles that require human judgment, customer interaction, and AI implementation. Over the past year, AI and generative AI skills have been embedded across IBM’s consulting and technology pathways, ensuring entry level candidates can work confidently and responsibly with emerging technologies.

As AI reshapes how work is done, apprenticeships are no longer a “nice to have”, they are at the centre of how we will create the next generation of the UK workforce. They nurture the next generation of professionals and build the capabilities industry increasingly demands. The message is clear: apprenticeships alongside wider entry level opportunities are critical to the UK’s long‑term competitiveness.