Department for Education’s National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 

Published on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025
Industry News

The awards are back, and in 2025, they are bigger and better than ever before! Back again for another year, the Department for Education’s National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the apprentices, employers and champions who have excelled this year, and with so many excellent examples from the plumbing and heating world, let’s get our applications in and shine a spotlight on the talent in our industry.

And the two T Level awards are returning for another year, allowing us to celebrate the success of T Level employers and T Level students across the country. Entries to the awards are now open! It is free to enter the awards, and all entries must be made through our website. Application packs are also available now to download on the D of E  application website, There are eleven categories to recognise exceptional employers, apprentices, T Level Students and Skills Champions.

Apprentice of the Year and Skills Champion categories

  • The Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award (level 2)
  • The Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award (level 3)
  • The Higher Apprentice of the Year Award (levels 4 and 5)
  • The Degree Level Apprentice of the Year Award (levels 6 or above)
  • The Rising Star of the Year Award (Apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date, and have the potential to go even further. Nominations are made by their employer)
  • The Skills Champion of the Year Award (Individuals who go ‘above and beyond’ to champion apprenticeships and skills. Nominations are made by a colleague or contact who recognises an individual’s ‘champion’ credentials)
  • The T Level Student of the Year (Awarded to a T Level student who has made a real difference to their workplace and used a T Level to boost their career)

Employer of the Year categories

  • The SME Employer of the Year Award (for organisations with 1 to 249 employees)
  • The Large Employer of the Year Award (for organisations with 250+ employees)
  • The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Employer of the Year Award (Presented to an organisation which demonstrates the impact it has had in creating opportunities and support for those who are disadvantaged or under-represented)
  • The T Level Employer of the Year (Awarded to an employer who has made a real difference by putting industry placements at the heart of its business and reaped the benefits)

New for 2024

  • We have relaunched the formerly named Social Justice Employer of the Year Award, and it is now called The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Employer of the Year Award. Webinars to explain the awards process in more detail, including hints and tips on completing your application, are now available on our application website.

Dates for your diary

Nine face to face regional ceremonies will be held during October 2025, with the national ceremony taking place on Wednesday 26th November 2025. Click here to find out more about the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards. In the meantime, please join the conversation on LinkedIn and X using @Apprenticeships and #SkillsAwards2025. If any of your colleagues would like to join our mailing list, please ask them to complete this short form.

Thank you!

The National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards Team