Celebrating Skills & Opportunity

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 begins on 9 February. Vital Heating Solutions is proud to support this landmark event.

Now in its nineteenth year, the campaign celebrates apprenticeships across England. It is led by the Department for Education.

The week showcases how apprenticeships build skills for life, strengthen communities, and boost the UK economy.

Whether you’re a school leaver, career changer, employer, or education provider, National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is your chance to get involved, promote success stories, and highlight the incredible value apprenticeships offer.

What is National Apprenticeship Week?

National Apprenticeship Week is a UK wide celebration that champions the impact of apprenticeships across all industries. It gives businesses, training providers, and apprentices themselves a platform to:

• Showcase success stories
• Promote career progression routes
• Encourage future applicants
• Demonstrate return on investment for businesses

Running from Monday 9 February to Sunday 15 February 2026, the event brings together employers, local authorities, training providers, schools, colleges, and apprenticeship ambassadors. The aim is simple to shine a light on the positive impact of apprenticeships for individuals, employers, and society.

Why National Apprenticeship Week Matters

There are many reasons why this dedicated week has become the flagship celebration of skills-based learning:

• Bridges the skills gap by aligning real world training with industry needs
• Provides equal opportunities for learners of all backgrounds
• Encourages economic growth through employer investment in workforce development
• Celebrates inclusivity and diversity within the workforce
• Supports government strategies on education, training, and employment

For companies like Vital Heating Solutions, apprenticeships are not just a recruitment strategy they’re part of the company’s culture, growth, and purpose.

How Apprenticeships Power Progress at Vital Heating Solutions

With over 20 years of experience in mechanical, commercial gas engineering, and renewable energy services, Vital Heating Solutions has long championed apprenticeships. Investing in people has always been at the heart of the company’s mission.

Here’s how apprenticeships make a difference at Vital Heating Solutions:

• Develop Future Ready Talent: Apprenticeships build confident engineers who learn on the job while gaining qualifications.
• Drive Innovation: Fresh perspectives help shape new solutions in renewable energy, HVAC, and plumbing.
• Support Local Communities: Many of our apprentices live locally, supporting the regional economy and accessing rewarding careers.
• Nurture Long Term Careers: Several team members, including engineers and support staff, started their journey as apprentices and now lead major projects.

Celebrating Apprenticeship Success Stories

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 offers an opportunity to celebrate individuals who have thrived through apprenticeship programmes.

Vital Heating Solutions is proud to have supported many apprentices into long-term roles. These real-life stories show that with the right support, training, and workplace culture, apprenticeships offer far more than a short-term job they offer a career pathway.

Whether it’s a young engineer gaining hands-on experience on a commercial plant room installation, or a business support apprentice helping coordinate large scale projects, every apprentice is vital to the company’s ongoing success.

How You Can Get Involved

Everyone can play a part in making #NAW2026 a success:

Employers

• Share your apprenticeship stories on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter)
• Host open days or virtual events to attract future talent
• Celebrate your apprentices’ achievements on social media
• Partner with local schools and colleges to promote routes into your industry

Schools and Colleges

• Host assemblies and careers sessions focused on apprenticeship options
• Invite alumni apprentices to speak to current students
• Share content from the official NAW social channels

Apprentices

• Share your journey on social media using #NAW2026
• Write a blog post or record a short video about your experience
• Join local events and panel discussions to inspire others

Parents and Guardians

• Learn more about apprenticeship options at gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
• Attend information sessions during the week
• Encourage open conversations about non-traditional career paths

Planning Your National Apprenticeship Week Activities

It’s never too early to start planning. Businesses and organisations should begin thinking about how they’ll get involved:

• Will you feature an apprentice spotlight series?
• Are there awards or internal recognition you could launch?
• Could you partner with training providers for Q&A sessions or taster days?
• Will your team visit a local school or college?

A strong campaign includes a mix of internal and external activity, online and in person. Whatever the format, it should highlight the impact apprenticeships have had on your organisation and the individuals within it.

Why Apprenticeships Matter in Engineering and Construction

The engineering, construction, and heating sectors face significant skills shortages. Apprenticeships play a crucial role in building a resilient, knowledgeable, and future-ready workforce.

At Vital Heating Solutions, apprentices are central to delivering:

• Bespoke mechanical plant room builds
• Underfloor heating design and installation
• Commercial boiler room servicing
• Industrial gas engineering and pipe welding
• Renewable heating solutions using air and ground source heat pumps

As the demand for low carbon technologies grows, so does the need for skilled professionals. Apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds’ hands on learning and classroom-based qualifications.

Supporting Career Growth Beyond Training

Apprenticeship training doesn’t stop at Level 2 or 3. Many apprentices go on to achieve higher qualifications, including HNCs, HNDs, and even degrees. At Vital Heating Solutions, apprentices are encouraged to pursue ongoing development and take on new responsibilities.

The company supports CPD (continuing professional development) across all teams and departments, helping individuals grow into site supervisors, project managers, and technical leads.

Working with Local Partners and Colleges

Vital Heating Solutions works closely with colleges and training providers across Lancashire and beyond. These partnerships are key to aligning industry needs with learner outcomes. Together, they:

• Co-develop training programmes that match real world scenarios
• Identify and support candidates with potential
• Offer industry placements and work experience
• Support progression into full time employment

Working in partnership ensures a pipeline of skilled, motivated people ready to enter the workforce with practical experience and strong foundations.

Spreading the Message: Use the Official Channels

The Department for Education encourages everyone to follow and tag:

• @Apprenticeships on X
• Apprenticeships on LinkedIn

Use the official hashtag #NAW2026 to join the conversation and amplify the message. You can also sign up for updates via the official newsletter at education.gov.uk for the latest guidance and campaign materials.

Apprenticeships and Net Zero: A Future-Focused Workforce

With the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target in mind, apprenticeships are more important than ever. The transition to clean energy, greener heating systems, and smarter buildings needs thousands of skilled professionals. Apprenticeships offer the route to creating that future workforce.

Vital Heating Solutions is already leading the way, helping commercial and domestic clients decarbonise their buildings through renewable technology and our apprentices are playing a vital role in making it happen.

Supporting Diversity and Inclusion Through Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a powerful way to support underrepresented groups. They provide real opportunities for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to access high-quality careers. At Vital Heating Solutions, diversity is embedded into recruitment and development processes.

We know that a strong workforce is a diverse workforce and apprenticeships are a practical way to open doors and level the playing field.

Why National Apprenticeship Week 2026 Matters

From building new skills to creating long-term careers, National Apprenticeship Week 2026 celebrates the power of apprenticeships in transforming lives and industries. For companies like Vital Heating Solutions, they are the foundation of a sustainable, future-ready business.

Now is the time to plan your activities, celebrate your apprentices, and share the impact they have on your business. Whether you employ one apprentice or fifty, your story matters.

Call to Action

Vital Heating Solutions invites partners, clients, schools, and learners to join the celebration. Share your apprenticeship success stories. Plan your events. Be proud of what apprenticeships have helped you achieve.

Visit apprenticeships.gov.uk to find out more and follow @Apprenticeships for the latest news.

Let’s make National Apprenticeship Week 2026 the biggest and most inspiring yet.