The foundational years of a career are defined by a critical choice: a degree or a vocation. As the UK grapples with persistent skills shortages, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent in key sectors has become a national economic priority. Yet, our research suggests this pipeline is far from uniform.
This study dives deep into the latest government statistics on apprenticeship participation among 16-18-year-olds. We uncover a striking regional disparity, where a handful of towns and cities are powering the UK’s vocational engine while others lag far behind. By comparing the top-performing areas with the lowest, this report provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors driving success and failure in skills training, offering expert insights into how this trend is shaping our future workforce and, ultimately, the nation’s economic landscape.
| Overall Rank | Location | Number of Apprenticeships (As percentage of 16-18 year olds) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warrington | 12.99% |
| 2 | Hartlepool | 12.10% |
| 3 | Cumbria | 11.37% |
| 4 | Gateshead | 11.10% |
| 5 | South Tyneside | 11.02% |
| 6 | Kingston upon Hull, City of | 10.50% |
| 7 | Wigan | 10.37% |
| 8 | Halton | 10.35% |
| 9 | Swindon | 9.93% |
| 10 | Sunderland | 9.76% |
| 11 | Rotherham | 9.50% |
| 12 | Leeds | 9.40% |
| 13 | South Gloucestershire | 9.36% |
| 14 | Redcar and Cleveland | 9.30% |
| 15 | Darlington | 9.21% |
| 16 | North Tyneside | 9.17% |
| 17 | Northumberland | 8.96% |
| 18 | North East Lincolnshire | 8.94% |
| 19 | County Durham | 8.78% |
| 20 | Tameside | 8.76% |
| 21 | St. Helens | 8.60% |
| 22 | Barnsley | 8.56% |
| 23 | Plymouth | 8.38% |
| 24 | Cheshire East | 8.38% |
| 25 | Luton | 7.90% |
| 26 | Calderdale | 7.73% |
| 27 | Stockton-on-Tees | 7.68% |
| 28 | Doncaster | 7.54% |
| 29 | Lancashire | 7.49% |
| 30 | Dudley | 7.47% |
| 31 | Wirral | 7.47% |
| 32 | Staffordshire | 7.46% |
| 33 | Portsmouth | 7.44% |
| 34 | Rochdale | 7.33% |
| 35 | Kirklees | 7.32% |
| 36 | Central Bedfordshire | 7.15% |
| 37 | Sefton | 7.15% |
| 38 | North Somerset | 7.09% |
| 39 | Essex | 6.87% |
| 40 | Coventry | 6.78% |
| 41 | Derbyshire | 6.74% |
| 42 | Blackpool | 6.72% |
| 43 | Lincolnshire | 6.70% |
| 44 | Medway | 6.67% |
| 45 | Oldham | 6.66% |
| 46 | Leicestershire | 6.46% |
| 47 | Solihull | 6.46% |
| 48 | Middlesbrough | 6.31% |
| 49 | Salford | 6.30% |
| 50 | Norfolk | 6.19% |
| 51 | East Riding of Yorkshire | 6.14% |
| 52 | Nottinghamshire | 6.05% |
| 53 | Thurrock | 5.97% |
| 54 | Telford and Wrekin | 5.96% |
| 55 | Liverpool | 5.95% |
| 56 | Worcestershire | 5.89% |
| 57 | Bexley | 5.76% |
| 58 | North Lincolnshire | 5.73% |
| 59 | Cornwall | 5.67% |
| 60 | Gloucestershire | 5.64% |
| 61 | West Berkshire | 5.60% |
| 62 | North Northamptonshire | 5.60% |
| 63 | York | 5.57% |
| 64 | Southend-on-Sea | 5.56% |
| 65 | Derby | 5.54% |
| 66 | North Yorkshire | 5.48% |
| 67 | Somerset | 5.47% |
| 68 | Bolton | 5.47% |
| 69 | Havering | 5.46% |
| 70 | Wakefield | 5.40% |
| 71 | Sheffield | 5.31% |
| 72 | Suffolk | 5.31% |
| 73 | Bradford | 5.29% |
| 74 | Warwickshire | 5.25% |
| 75 | Isle of Wight | 5.22% |
| 76 | Kent | 5.20% |
| 77 | Stoke-on-Trent | 5.16% |
| 78 | Grand Total | 5.07% |
| 79 | West Northamptonshire | 5.07% |
| 80 | Wolverhampton | 4.92% |
| 81 | Devon | 4.92% |
| 82 | Bedford | 4.91% |
| 83 | Dorset | 4.91% |
| 84 | Blackburn with Darwen | 4.91% |
| 85 | Sandwell | 4.89% |
| 86 | Hampshire | 4.74% |
| 87 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 4.74% |
| 88 | Walsall | 4.64% |
| 89 | Peterborough | 4.61% |
| 90 | Hertfordshire | 4.58% |
| 91 | Shropshire | 4.55% |
| 92 | Herefordshire, County of | 4.53% |
| 93 | Torbay | 4.48% |
| 94 | Hillingdon | 4.42% |
| 95 | Oxfordshire | 4.41% |
| 96 | Bath and North East Somerset | 4.40% |
| 97 | Buckinghamshire | 4.36% |
| 98 | Barking and Dagenham | 4.20% |
| 99 | Milton Keynes | 4.15% |
| 100 | Trafford | 4.13% |
| 101 | Bury | 4.09% |
| 102 | Waltham Forest | 4.06% |
| 103 | West Sussex | 4.06% |
| 104 | Bromley | 4.02% |
| 105 | Leicester | 3.99% |
| 106 | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 3.96% |
| 107 | Reading | 3.76% |
| 108 | Bristol, City of | 3.73% |
| 109 | Slough | 3.67% |
| 110 | Wiltshire | 3.67% |
| 111 | East Sussex | 3.65% |
| 112 | Redbridge | 3.61% |
| 113 | Southampton | 3.60% |
| 114 | Greenwich | 3.54% |
| 115 | Wokingham | 3.50% |
| 116 | Nottingham | 3.49% |
| 117 | Tower Hamlets | 3.47% |
| 118 | Birmingham | 3.42% |
| 119 | Haringey | 3.33% |
| 120 | Cambridgeshire | 3.14% |
| 121 | Stockport | 3.11% |
| 122 | Sutton | 3.09% |
| 123 | Cheshire West and Chester | 3.08% |
| 124 | Newham | 3.01% |
| 125 | Windsor and Maidenhead | 2.98% |
| 126 | Brent | 2.92% |
| 127 | Enfield | 2.75% |
| 128 | Hackney | 2.65% |
| 129 | Islington | 2.61% |
| 130 | Surrey | 2.58% |
| 131 | Bracknell Forest | 2.56% |
| 132 | Harrow | 2.47% |
| 133 | Manchester | 2.26% |
| 134 | Kingston upon Thames | 2.25% |
| 135 | Croydon | 2.24% |
| 136 | Hounslow | 2.24% |
| 137 | Lewisham | 2.17% |
| 138 | Ealing | 1.92% |
| 139 | Brighton and Hove | 1.77% |
| 140 | Barnet | 1.74% |
| 141 | Merton | 1.73% |
| 142 | Lambeth | 1.67% |
| 143 | Westminster | 1.65% |
| 144 | Southwark | 1.48% |
| 145 | Camden | 1.43% |
| 146 | Richmond upon Thames | 1.06% |
| 147 | Hammersmith and Fulham | 0.94% |
| 148 | Kensington and Chelsea | 0.88% |
| 149 | Wandsworth | 0.85% |
| 150 | Rutland | 0.81% |
| 151 | City of London | 0.78% |
Warrington has the highest apprenticeship participation rate in the UK, with 12.99% of 16-18-year-olds choosing vocational training over traditional academic routes. That’s more than double the national average (5.07%) and far ahead of major cities like London (2.51%).
Unlike areas where apprenticeships are scarce, Warrington benefits from a strong industrial base, employer partnerships, and a culture that values skills training. Key factors include:
Employer Demand: Major firms like BAE Systems, Sellafield Ltd, and Nationwide actively recruit apprentices in engineering, logistics, and digital roles.
Training Infrastructure: Warrington & Vale Royal College delivers 500+ apprenticeships yearly, with direct links to local businesses.
Hartlepool has the second-highest apprenticeship uptake in the UK, with 12.10% of 16-18-year-olds choosing vocational training – more than double the national average (5.07%) and significantly ahead of major cities like Birmingham (3.42%) and London (2.51%).
Unlike areas where apprenticeships struggle to gain traction, Hartlepool benefits from:
Strong Industrial Legacy: Key sectors like advanced manufacturing, offshore energy, and engineering drive demand for skilled apprentices.
Employer Commitment: Major employers like Caterpillar, Heerema, and Hartlepool College offer high-quality apprenticeships.
Affordable Living: With lower housing costs than the UK average, young workers can build careers without relocating.
Cumbria defies its modest population with the UK’s third-highest apprenticeship percentage uptake, fueled by its nuclear and renewable energy sectors. The Sellafield site alone trains over 500 apprentices annually through partnerships with Lakes College and Gen2 Training, with 82% securing permanent local jobs (Cumbria LEP 2023). This rural success story highlights how specialised industries can anchor regional skills development.
Nearby Workington’s industrial heritage drives a 12.1% uptake, while tourist-reliant Kendal (8.9%) lags behind.
Gender Gap: 68% male apprentices reflect the dominance of engineering/construction trades.
Outshines neighbouring Lancashire (7.49%) due to concentrated investment in energy sector training.
Gateshead’s apprenticeship boom is powered by its Nissan supply chain, with 1 in 4 apprentices training in advanced manufacturing. The Skills Academy for Construction has placed 94% of graduates into local jobs (NE LEP 2024). Yet stark disparities exist: deprived areas like Felling (12.8%) embrace vocational routes, while affluent Low Fell (8.3%) favors universities.
Automotive Focus: 23% of apprentices in engineering vs. 11% UK average.
Youth Pipeline: 14.2% of residents aged 16-24 (ONS 2023) ensures steady demand.
Urban Mismatch:
Performs 2.3x better than Newcastle (4.74%), revealing how satellite towns often outperform core cities.
Maritime industries drive South Tyneside’s success, with the Marine School training 300+ apprentices yearly for global shipping firms. The council’s “1000 Apprenticeships” initiative has slashed youth unemployment by 19% since 2021 (Council Report 2024). However, female participation stagnates at 31%, exposing sectoral gender divides.
Schools like St. Wilfrid’s RC College achieve 22% apprenticeship entry rates through tailored vocational programs.
Wage Premium: Maritime apprentices earn £24K by qualification – 18% above regional average.
Leads Sunderland (9.76%) in green energy apprenticeships, aided by offshore wind investments.
Hull’s apprenticeship surge stems from Siemens Gamesa’s £200m wind turbine factory, which trains 120 apprentices annually. The city’s cost of living (40% below London) helps retain talent, with 73% of apprentices staying post-qualification (Hull City Council 2024). Yet ethnic minorities remain underrepresented, comprising just 11% of apprentices despite being 26% of the population.
Orchard Park (13.1%) thrives with council-funded incentives.
Anlaby (6.2%), an affluent suburb, sees higher university enrollment.
Outpaces Leeds (9.40%) in logistics apprenticeships, proving smaller cities can lead in niche sectors.
Wigan’s strategic location along the M6 corridor has made it a magnet for warehousing and transport apprenticeships, accounting for 31% of all vocational starts (Greater Manchester LEP 2023). Employers like Amazon and Heinz run dedicated academy programs, contributing to a youth employment rate 14% higher than the national average. Yet the borough faces a gender imbalance – only 29% of apprentices are female, reflecting sectoral biases in logistics roles.
Leigh (11.2%) benefits from industrial park partnerships
Standish (7.8%) sees higher university enrollment among affluent families
Triples the apprenticeship rate of central Manchester (2.26%), proving industrial towns often outperform metropolitan cores for vocational training.
Home to the massive Stanlow oil refinery, Halton supplies 45% of Northwest England’s process manufacturing apprentices (Cheshire & Warrington LEP 2024). The local Riverside College offers specialised qualifications in chemical engineering, with 91% of graduates securing jobs paying above regional averages. However, the area struggles to attract apprentices from beyond its borders due to perceptions of heavy industry work.
Widnes (11.1%) leads in advanced manufacturing uptake
Runcorn (9.4%) shows stronger service-sector apprenticeships
While Halton thrives, neighbouring Liverpool (5.95%) trails significantly despite having triple the population.
As the only Southern town in the top 10, Swindon’s success stems from its Honda legacy and growing tech sector. The UTC Swindon engineering school places 82% of students into apprenticeships – the highest rate in the South (DfE 2024). The town’s relatively affordable housing (£265k average vs £385k across the South East) helps retain young workers.
38% in advanced engineering
22% in digital/tech
15% in healthcare
Outperforms nearby Bristol (3.73%) by 2.6x, challenging assumptions about vocational education in affluent regions.
Sunderland’s Nissan plant remains the cornerstone of its apprenticeship ecosystem, training 400+ annually. The new International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) has expanded opportunities in battery technology, contributing to a 28% increase in engineering starts since 2021 (North East LEP). The city council’s “Apprentice Town” initiative guarantees interviews for local youth at major employers.
Washington (10.9%) leads in manufacturing uptake
Hendon (7.2%) shows lower engagement despite higher deprivation
While strong, it trails neighbour South Tyneside (11.02%) in maritime apprenticeships, highlighting sectoral specialisation differences.
The data reveals a stark North-South chasm in apprenticeship uptake, with Northern cities like Warrington (12.99%) and Hartlepool (12.10%) outperforming Southern counterparts by 3:1 or more. Only Swindon (9.93%) cracks the top 10 from the South. This gap reflects:
Cultural Priorities: Southern schools push university routes (80% of London teens apply vs. 50% in Hull).
Economic Structures: The North retains manufacturing/logistics hubs, while the South leans toward graduate-centric sectors like finance.
Policy Failure: Apprenticeship funding per capita is 23% lower in the Southeast despite higher living costs (IFS 2024).
Male apprentices dominate in top cities like Halton (71% male) and South Tyneside (69%), reflecting entrenched biases in sectors like engineering and construction. Meanwhile, women cluster in lower-paid care/administration roles. Breaking this pattern requires:
Early Interventions: STEM outreach in girls’ schools (e.g., Sellafield’s “Girls in Hard Hats” program boosted female applications by 40%).
Employer Incentives: Companies like BAE Systems now offer flexible childcare support for apprentice parents.
Shocking Statistics:
A female apprentice in manufacturing earns £28K by qualification – £7K more than her counterpart in childcare (ONS 2024).
While university degrees are often seen as the default path to success, apprenticeships in high-demand sectors are delivering better financial outcomes for young people in key cities – with no student debt.
The Data Tells the Story:
By Age 24, Level 4+ apprentices in Warrington (12.99% uptake) earn £30K+ on average -£4K more than the median graduate salary (DfE 2024).
Lifetime Earnings: Degree apprentices in engineering/tech hit £1.6M-£2.1M, rivalling Russell Group graduates (London Economics 2023).
Debt-Free Advantage: The average university student graduates with £45K in loans, while apprentices earn £15K-22K/year during training.
Where Apprenticeships Pay Off Most
Manufacturing Hubs (Cumbria, Sunderland)
Nuclear/automotive apprentices reach £35K by age 25 (vs. £28K for local graduates).
Tech & Digital (Swindon, Warrington)
IT apprentices at firms like BAE Systems out-earn computer science grads in their first 5 years.
Green Energy (Hull, South Tyneside)
Offshore wind technicians start at £32K, with salaries rising to £60K+ – faster than many STEM degree holders.
The Catch:
Regional Pay Gaps: A London graduate still out-earns most apprentices long-term – but only if they secure elite jobs in finance/law.
Social Mobility: Apprenticeships offer a faster route to middle-class wages for disadvantaged youth who can’t afford university.
This analysis is based on the latest UK government data on apprenticeship participation among 16-18-year-olds, sourced from the Department for Education (DfE) and Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Key Data Sources:
Apprenticeship Rates: Official DfE statistics on apprenticeship starts by local authority (2023/24 academic year, latest available data).
Earnings Data: ONS annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE), combined with DfE longitudinal education outcomes (LEO) data.
Regional Comparisons: ONS population estimates and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) reports.
Inclusion Criteria:
Focused on level 2+ apprenticeships (excluding short-term traineeships).
Used percentage of 16-18-year-olds in apprenticeships to control for population size.
Compared to median graduate salaries at the same career stage (5 years post-qualification).
Adjustments & Limitations:
Cost of living: Earnings adjusted for regional price differences using ONS RPI data.
Debt calculations: Student loan figures based on Student Loans Company repayment models.
Exclusions: Areas with sample sizes <20 cohorts were omitted to prevent skew.
Super talented, unflappable and very funny, Phuong supports the whole marketing team in her role as Digital Marketing Executive. Phuong holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and recently completed a master’s degree in Management and Marketing. Originally from Hanoi in Vietnam, Phuong is now based in the UK and climatising brilliantly to our weather and food.
Phuong owns a food review Instagram page as travelling and food are her passion. She also has a cute little french bulldog.
Ellie was the first woman to join Titus and has paved the way for many more since then. After studying for a degree in Fashion and Marketing, Ellie was lucky to find herself at fashion weeks and photoshoots.
Now she’s switched from talk of the front row to front end design and has brought loads of transferable knowledge to Titus. Ellie has also found a real passion for tech, especially in the learning sector, helping clients create positive change for their organisations.
As one of the youngest people at Titus but at the same time one of the oldest serving members of the team, Callum has graced Titus with his broad smile and positive attitude for over 5 years now. As a key member of the marketing team, Callum works across all areas, both on and offline, to ensure that all Titus brands and communication are on point.
After missing out on the opportunity to go to University the first time around, management encouraged him to enrol in our course alongside his work. He is now studying to achieve his Level 6 Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.
Always bringing innovation and new ideas, Dec studied a degree in Journalism but found his passion in digital marketing. Dec has also worked in marketing for one of the countries biggest retailers and within the property sector.
Outside work, Dec Co-founded a news publication where he collaborated with global brands like Uber, Amazon, BooHoo and countless SMEs.
