The number of apprentices in England starting, participating in and completing apprenticeships is continuing to increase, according to latest quarterly figures from the Department for Education.
Headline statistics for the first three months of the 2025/26 academic year show apprenticeship starts up 7.7% to 142,780 against 132,560 in the same quarter of 2024.
Learner participation for the period August 2025 to October 2025 increased by 3.2% to 589,850 compared to 571,630 and apprenticeship achievements rose by 22% to 46,140 against 37,820 over the same period.
Other key findings from the statistics, which are based on data provided to the DfE by training providers in December 2025, show that:
Learner profiles
Apprenticeships continue to have plenty of appeal, these figures would suggest, although there was a slight fall in starts among under 19s during this quarter – down 4.1% to 40,100 from a previous 41,810. However, starts in the 19-24 age group rose by 7.4% to 40,020, while starts among learners aged 25+ increased by 17.2% to 62,660.
The proportion of learners recorded as having a learning disability grew by 9.2% to 22,720 up from 20,800 in 2024 – accounting for 16.5% of the cohort compared to 16.3% the year before.
There was also a 19.6% increase in the number of learners from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding white minorities), with 24,760 starts against 20,700 in the same three month of 2024. These learners accounted for 17.7% of the cohort compared to 15.8% last year.
Industry and education’s efforts to encourage more female learners to take up careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects appears to be working. The proportion of starts by female apprentices in STEM is now 16.4% at 8,620 against 14.9% or 7,220, in the same quarter of 2024.
Supporting learners, training providers and employers with Onefile
As these latest statistics clearly indicate, interest in apprenticeships at all levels remains strong.
With the government’s push to widen the net and open up apprentice opportunities to younger school leavers, some employers and training providers will be offering apprentice programmes for the first time.
Onefile, the leading learner management platform, has more than 20 years’ experience in helping businesses and providers make the most of online tools to engage and support learners by streamlining workflows.
Over 36,000 apprentices were registered on Onefile between August and October 2025, reinforcing its position as a trusted platform supporting providers and employers at a time of sustained growth across the apprenticeship landscape.
Book a discovery call to see how Onefile can help you manage your apprenticeships.