news.today
Hello · Register today | LoginHello · My Account[—] [33]
UK

Cumbria's apprenticeship take-up far outpaces national average

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 13:43 · Archive

Young people in Cumberland are choosing apprenticeships at 12.5 per cent, more than three times the national rate of 3.9 per cent.

Young people in Cumbria are taking up apprenticeships at a significantly higher rate than the national average, according to figures released by the Cumbria Combined Authority. In Cumberland, 12.5 per cent of 16 to 17 year-olds are choosing apprenticeships after leaving school, compared to just 3.9 per cent nationally. This represents a marked difference in how young people in the region are pursuing their education and career pathways.

The data comes from the authority's October labour market briefing, which tracks the state of the county's economy including unemployment benefit claims and business activity. As of August 2026, the breakdown of how 16 and 17 year-olds in Cumberland spend their time shows 74 per cent in fixed-term equivalent employment or training, 12.5 per cent in apprenticeships, 1.5 per cent in work-based learning or employment with training, and 12 per cent categorised as other or not known.

Overall participation in education and training across Cumbria remains strong. In July 2026, 89.8 per cent of young people met the education and training participation requirement set out in the Education and Skills Act 2008, which requires all young people to remain in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. This figure compares closely with the national average of 90.9 per cent.

Participation rates vary across the region. Westmorland and Furness leads at 92.2 per cent, whilst Cumberland sits at 88 per cent. Despite this variance, Cumberland's substantially higher apprenticeship uptake suggests the area has particularly strong ties to work-based training and employment routes for young people leaving school.

The high apprenticeship rates reflect broader efforts to promote alternative pathways to traditional academic routes. System People, an education training provider, has launched a series of apprenticeship open evenings across Cumbria to showcase careers in education. The events, held throughout November in Carlisle, Workington and Barrow, are designed to connect individuals interested in early years education or classroom support with schools and nurseries.

Jayne Lillington, education apprenticeships and careers lead at System People, said the open evenings allow people to understand what an apprenticeship could look like. 'Being able to sit down with someone who is already doing an apprenticeship, or an employer who has supported one, can help you understand what it could look like for you,' she said. The events are open to school leavers, career changers, existing practitioners seeking further qualifications, and employers interested in developing their teams.

Cumbria's apprenticeship take-up far outpaces national average
Image: News & Star

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

In this story: Cumbria · Cumberland · Westmorland and Furness · Cumbria Combined Authority · System People · Jayne Lillington

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log