About the Rankings

The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers recognises the UK's leading employers, from a wide range of industries & business sectors, that do the most to provide successful apprenticeships for their employees.

First produced by High Fliers Research in 2020, the rankings assess employers according to the number of apprentices they employ, their new apprenticeship starts, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the number of apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeships.

The 2026 rankings were launched in a special TV programme on Thursday 11th June and then showcased in a 16-page supplement in The Sunday Times on Sunday 14th June, sponsored by BPP.

Entries in 2026

Apprenticeship employers from more than 25 different industries & employment sectors entered for The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in 2026.

Entries were open to apprenticeship employers with a minimum of 100 employees in the UK, that employ 10 apprentices or more in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

A short video guide helped employers to prepare and submit their official entry for the rankings, which included providing the following information:

their total number of UK employees and the number of employees who are currently on apprenticeship programmes
how many apprentices started an apprenticeship between 1st January and 31st December 2025 (including those recruited externally and existing employees) and at which level of apprenticeship
the diversity of apprentices who began apprenticeships during 2025 (including apprentices' gender, age, ethnicity and learning difficulties & disabilities)
the number of apprentices who successfully completed their apprenticeships in the past year

Once their entries had been submitted, employers took part in follow-up data checks by telephone or email to confirm and verify the information provided. Each entry was then independently assessed, scored, and weighted according to the size of the employer's UK workforce.

Every employer entering for the rankings receives full feedback on their entry, benchmarking their apprenticeship programmes with other entrants, and will be ranked within their own industry or employment sector. View an example of the feedback report.

And all participating employers receive 5 annual digital subscriptions to The Times & Sunday Times – and are invited to an exclusive programme of apprenticeship workshops later in the year.

The entry fee for The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in 2026 was £495+VAT.

Entries for the Top 100 in 2027 will open later this year.

“At BPP, we’re proud to play a leading role in shaping the future of apprenticeships in the UK. Every year, we work with over 10,000 employers and 13,000 apprentices to build practical skills that make a real difference.

Our unrivalled range of programmes—spanning more than 50 apprenticeships across 16 subject areas from Level 2 to Level 7—supports learners from entry level to specialist expert, helping businesses to close critical skills gaps and empowering individuals to build the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive in their careers.

We are delighted to be sponsoring The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in 2026 – recognising the UK’s most successful employers of apprentices and helping to inspire the next generation of ambitious school and college-leavers to embark on apprenticeships that will launch their careers.”

Nichola Hay MBE
Director of Apprenticeship Strategy & Policy, BPP

“The Association of Apprentices is the professional home for all apprentices in the UK. We exist to empower every apprentice to thrive from their first day through to completion and beyond. Our platforms provide tailored learning, peer support and exclusive events that transform the experience of work and study, helping apprentices connect, learn and grow.

With over 50,000 members representing more than 18,000 employers, the Association of Apprentices opens doors to skills development, recognition through initiatives such as the Post-Apprenticeship Recognition Scheme (PARS) and opportunities that level the playing field for all.

We are proud to support The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, celebrating organisations that go above and beyond in their provision of apprenticeships, and set the standard for excellence.”

Lindsay Conroy
Chief Executive, Association of Apprentices

"AELP, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, is delighted to support The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in celebrating the country’s most committed and successful apprenticeship employers in 2026.

We are the national membership body representing independent training providers, employer-providers and assessment organisations delivering apprenticeships and wider skills training across England. Our members work with tens of thousands of employers, supporting learners of all ages to develop the skills they need to progress, and businesses to grow and innovate.

We work closely with government, regulators and employers to shape policy, improve quality and champion a strong, well-funded apprenticeship system. Recognising and promoting excellent employers is a vital part of that mission, and the Top 100 plays an important role in showcasing what good looks like across the apprenticeship landscape."

Ben Rowland
Chief Executive Officer, AELP

“Our mission at The Careers & Enterprise Company is to help every young person find their best next step. We work with 96% of schools and colleges to strengthen careers education and improve outcomes across England.

Since 2015, our work has driven a threefold increase in career-related activity in schools and colleges. Young people’s access to employers, apprenticeship providers and workplace experiences has expanded significantly and our recent survey of a third of a million young people shows understanding of apprenticeships is now on par with A-levels.

It's more important than ever to shine a light on employers who are creating opportunities for young people to earn and learn. I am proud to partner with The Sunday Times and congratulate all apprenticeship employers who entered for the rankings in 2026.

John Yarham
Chief Executive, The Careers & Enterprise Company

“The 5% Club is proud to support The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and the recognition it provides for the UK’s most successful apprenticeship employers.

More than a quarter of the employers that featured in the 2025 rankings are members of The 5% Club, which sets organisations the challenge that at least 5% of their workforce should be in ‘earn and learn’ roles, such as apprenticeships or graduate training schemes.

With a membership of over 1,200 employers, The 5% Club now represents over 1.9 million employees in the UK, including more than 80,000 apprentices.

I would encourage all apprenticeship employers to enter for the annual Top 100 rankings and celebrate their commitment to offering high-quality apprenticeships to new and existing employees.”

Mark Cameron OBE
Chief Executive Officer, The 5% Club

About the Rankings

Entries in 2026

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