Why investing in apprenticeships should be a strategic priority for health and care employers. #NAW2026 

As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 shines a spotlight on skills, opportunity and workforce development, few sectors have more to gain from apprenticeships than adult health and social care. 

Employers across the sector are operating under intense pressure. Demand for safe, high-quality, person-centred care continues to rise, driven by an ageing population and increasingly complex needs. At the same time, providers are grappling with financial constraints, rising employment costs, regulatory scrutiny and one of the toughest recruitment and retention landscapes in recent memory. 

In this context, apprenticeships are not simply a training option – they are a strategic investment that directly supports business objectives, improves care quality, enhances customer satisfaction and strengthens recruitment and retention. 

A sector under pressure 

Adult care providers are facing some of the most challenging circumstances the sector has ever experienced. 

• - Vacancy rates remain stubbornly high, with more than 130,000 unfilled roles across England. 

• - Care providers find it hard to attract and retain staff, especially with the perception of the care sector. 

• - Rising demand for social care services, and this is expected to continue. 

• - Standardised career pathways, training and qualifications is low across the sector. 

• - Rising costs, reduced funding makes it harder to invest in long-term workforce development. 

• - CQC expectations around consistent, person-centred care remain rightly rigorous. 

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• Against this backdrop, it can feel counterintuitive to invest time and energy into training. Yet the true cost lies in not doing so. 

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The business case for apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships offer a practical, funded and proven way to strengthen your organisation from the inside out. 

1. Supporting business objectives 

Every care organisation has core objectives: delivering safe, high-quality care, maintaining compliance, operating sustainably and building resilient services for the future. 

Apprenticeships directly support these goals by: 

- building a skilled, competent workforce aligned to your service model 

- reducing reliance on agency staff by developing existing employees 

- creating internal talent pipelines for senior, specialist and leadership roles 

- providing structured, time-bound development with measurable outcomes. 

With staff able to achieve Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications in under nine months, employers see improvements in practice quickly – not years down the line. 

 2. Raising the quality of care  

Competence is the baseline in adult care – safeguarding, infection control, medication and legislation are non-negotiable. But quality care goes further. 

Outstanding care is being able to relate, be emotional and human. 

High-quality apprenticeships embed: 

- compassionate, person-centred communication 

- emotional intelligence and reflective practice 

- dignity, respect and empathy in everyday care interactions 

Training that develops both competence and compassion improves service user experiences, reduces safeguarding risks and supports stronger CQC outcomes. 

When staff feel confident, supported and emotionally equipped, the people they support feel it too. 

3. Improving customer satisfaction and reputation 

For care providers, customers are not just service users they include families, commissioners, regulators and communities. 

A well-trained workforce leads to: 

- a more consistent, person-centred approach 

- better communication with families and professionals 

-  an increased trust and confidence in your service and reputational benefits. 

Apprenticeships help embed best practice across teams, reducing variability and ensuring that quality does not depend on a handful of experienced individuals. 

Apprenticeships as a magnet for talent 

Recruiting into adult care has never been more competitive. Other sectors often offer similar pay without the physical or emotional demands of care work. 

Apprenticeships send a powerful message: This is not just a job, it’s a career. 

Clear learning pathways, from entry level through to specialist and leadership roles, make care a more attractive and sustainable profession. 

When candidates see that they can gain recognised qualifications while earning and making a real difference, the role immediately stands out. 

Train and retain 

High staff turnover is one of the biggest challenges in adult care. 

Apprenticeships improve retention by: 

- increasing confidence and competence in role 

- boosting morale and professional pride 

- demonstrating that the employer values and invests in its people 

-  creating loyalty through clear progression and development 

Staff who can see a future within your organisation are far more likely to stay, grow and step into senior or specialist roles over time, saving you time and money spent on recruitment.  

Funded opportunities health and care employers 

One of the most concerning issues in the sector is how many employers are unaware of the funding available to them. 

Through the Apprenticeship Levy, many adult care apprenticeships can be delivered with funding support, at little or no cost to the employer or the learner. Realise’s specialist health and care team are happy to support any employer find the right funding for their training needs.  

Apprenticeships are proven to work in the health and care sector 

Leading care providers across the UK are already seeing the benefits. Organisations such as MHA, Anchor, Harbour and Springfield have used funded apprenticeships to: 

• - improve staff retention 

• - strengthen leadership capability 

• - maintain consistent, high care standards across multiple services 

- Stronger teams, better care and more resilient organisations. The Realise team is on hand to support you to achieve this through training.  

National Apprenticeship Week 2026: A Call to Action 

This National Apprenticeship Week adult care employers have a chance to rethink training not as a cost, but as a strategic investment. 

In a sector under pressure, investing in people is one of the few decisions that pays dividends on every level. Get in contact with our team to find out how apprenticeships can help your business and employees thrive.