FAQS

Based on feedback from the 2025 rankings, two updates have been introduced for 2026.

1. Achievements - Alongside the number of successful achievements we will also look at the number of those not completing to assess which employers convert the most apprentices from start to completion.

A new question has been added to the entry form to support this:

Between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026, how many apprentices at your organisation withdrew from their apprenticeship before completing all requirements or before the End-Point Assessment?

This information will contribute to the Achievements section of the rankings and supports us recognise employers whose apprentices complete their programme.

2. Commitment 

A new measure has been introduced within the Commitment section, Apprentices as a percentage of employees. It uses data already collected to reflect the proportion of apprentices within your overall workforce, recognising organisations with a higher percentage of apprentices.

The Top Apprenticeship Employers is calculated based on a weighted algorithm that has been determined by the partner organisations, Higherin and the Department for Work & Pensions. The rankings measure an employer’s commitment to apprenticeships and the quality of their programmes.

Ranking factors are in three separate categories as follows:

• Achievements - This criteria rewards employers whose apprentices complete their programme, valuing employers who converted the most apprentices from start to completion.

• Commitment - We’ve valued Commitment as:

  • Total apprenticeship opportunities offered by the employer - this criteria rewards employers with the greatest commitment to apprenticeships within their organisations, including as a proportion of apprentices within the workforce.

  • We also value the range of programmes offered - Considering the range of entry points, this criteria rewards employers with multiple routes into their organisations, such as Intermediate, Advanced, Higher & Degree.

  • We also recognise those employers who foster inclusive environments and provide opportunities for a wider range of talent. By considering the diversity of apprenticeship cohorts, we ensure that the rankings reflect employers who are committed to offering equal opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds.

• Reviews - The third segment of the rankings criteria is based purely on apprentice or learner feedback within the reviews written on HigherIn.com. The first being:

• Average review rating - All reviews submitted between 1st June2025 & 1st May 2026, and we’ve used the average rating per employer across all their reviews

• Total reviews submitted - this rewards encouraging reviews above the minimum eligibility threshold… which is a minimum of 10 reviews for the Top 100 & a minimum of one review for the Top 50… rewarding employers for breadth of feedback

• Reviews as percentage of intake - Considering the volume of feedback in relation to the overall cohort, this criteria rewards employers who have a high volume of feedback in comparison to their intake, thus ensuring the feedback we receive is as reflective as possible of the overall experience

• And finally, the percentage of apprentices who would recommend their employer to a friend. Question nine in the review form asks ‘Would you recommend <CompanyName> to a friend? With Yes or No tickbox options. As you can probably expect, the criteria here rewards employers with the highest percentages of apprentices recommending their employer to a friend.

The exact dates will be updated shortly. For now, please find the estimated timelines below:

January 2026 - begin encouraging reviews on Higherin.com

February/March - Full entry and nomination process opens

Summer 2026 - Results are announced

September 2026 - Celebration event

Apprenticeship reviews on Higherin.com are a verifiable, authentic method of determining how many unique apprentices are in your cohort - and also offers a window into their experience on your apprenticeship programme.

As well as using these reviews for your ranking, encouraging these reviews from your cohort comes with a range of benefits including:

• Gaining valuable insights into your schemes from the people who really matter.

• Reduce the risk of reneged offers by encouraging applications from like-minded apprentices, informed by your reviews.

• Raise awareness of your brand with 16-24 year olds across the UK.

Some suggestions from our previous Top Apprenticeship Employers include: 

• Prioritise - Make reviews part of the end-of-programme process to ensure a broad mix of responses.

• Incentivise - Offer incentives, such as prize draws or vouchers, and integrate reviews into key events like awards ceremonies.

• Schedule - Create a dedicated time and space for reviews in the office, such as a “Rate and Cake” session.

• Align - If apprentices are in demanding roles, align review collection with existing surveys or initiatives to boost engagement.

• Collaborate - Share the workload by dividing outreach among the team and involving managers to follow up with those who haven’t submitted a review.

You can also check out our “How To Encourage Reviews” document here.

• Guide Your Apprentices – Direct your apprentices to Higherin.com, where they can create a free account and complete a review. No need for you to create a company profile - the creation of a review will automatically generate a profile if you don’t already have one.

• Encourage Participation – Explain why reviews are important, remind them their feedback is anonymous, and consider using incentives or dedicated review sessions.

• Start Early – Start the process early to give you the maximum amount of time to get your reviews in.

The Top Apprenticeship Employers aims to provide a well-rounded and dynamic picture of the apprenticeship landscape, showcasing employers who foster inclusive environments and provide opportunities for a wider range of talent. By considering the diversity of your apprenticeship cohort, we ensure that the rankings reflect employers who are committed to offering equal opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds. This approach ultimately strengthens the overall value and fairness of the rankings.

Your HR team is likely to have this data, either from recruitment records, internal reporting, or HR systems. If your apprenticeships are delivered through a training provider, they may also hold relevant diversity information. Some organisations track this data for government reporting (e.g. DfE or Ofsted), so checking past submissions may help. If there are gaps, an internal survey could provide additional insights. If in doubt, your HR team or training provider should be able to guide you.

To ensure consistency with ILR (Individualised Learner Record) data verification requirements, the entry form currently aligns with the gender categories used in official apprenticeship data reporting.

At present, this reporting framework records male and female data only.

We recognise the importance of representing all gender identities and are committed to reviewing how the rankings can evolve in line with developments in national data collection and best practice in inclusive reporting. Our intention is to ensure that the rankings remain both verifiable and reflective of the diverse apprenticeship community.

To ensure accuracy and consistency, in 2026 the rankings will be based on apprenticeship intakes in England, using data that is independently verifiable through the Government.

While any student can submit a review, apprenticeship standards differ across the devolved nations. Each nation has its own regulatory framework, funding models, and qualification structures, making direct comparison challenging at this stage. However, we are actively working to build relationships with stakeholders in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with the long-term ambition of expanding the rankings to recognise top apprenticeship employers across the whole of the UK.

To ensure a fair and balanced representation of the employer landscape, we operate on a "one entry per brand" policy. While we recognise that many franchises operate as independent SMEs with unique training styles, all sites (e.g. individual salons, restaurants, or branches) must consolidate their data into a single national submission under the main brand name.

This prevents the rankings from being dominated by multiple entries from a single brand and ensures that large-scale franchise models are measured consistently alongside other national employers.

No. There is no cost to enter the Top Apprenticeship Employers rankings. Entry is free to ensure participation remains open to all eligible employers and that recognition is based on apprentice experience, programme quality and organisational commitment rather than the ability to pay an entry fee.