Early Connect apprenticeship support for young people
You are seeing this page because you are a school, sixth form, or FE college supporting Year 13 students in one of our pilot regions: Lancashire, the North East, and Greater London. You have expressed interest in taking part in our pilot programme.
We have completed the first year of the pilot, in collaboration with UCAS, we will continue to support students who left Year 13 in 2024.
The second year of the pilot began in September 2024, focusing on Year 13 students due to leave in 2025.
Year 2 pilot
Led by DfE working with partners in each region.
- Lancashire: Lancashire Skills Hub
- North East: North East Combined Authority with Educational Development Trust (EDT)
- Greater London: Greater London Authority with Rinova and Inspire
The pilot enhances national DfE services, providing students with exclusive support for exploring and applying for apprenticeships alongside other options, such as undergraduate courses.
Resources for schools, staff, parents, and students
We provide additional resources based on your feedback. You can adapt and share these to suit your needs.
Presentations (will open in Microsoft PowerPoint)
These PowerPoint presentations cover apprenticeship basics, Early Connect background, and regional support. Additional notes are included for reference. You can edit the slides as needed for your school or college.
Student Registration on Find An Apprenticeship (FAA)
For information on the new FAA signup process, watch the video: Find an apprenticeship: How to create an account and search for apprenticeship vacancies on YouTube.
Continuous professional development (CPD) resources
Amazing apprenticeships have put together a series of short CPD videos to help schools and colleges boost their knowledge of apprenticeships. These videos will support you in educating staff, students, and parents about apprenticeships - what they are, how to find them, and how to apply.
Episode 1: Apprenticeships basics
Episode 2: The role of the training provider and employer
Episode 3: Understanding the levels of apprenticeships
Episode 4: Inspiring students and their families
Episode 5: Searching and applying for apprenticeships
Episode 6: The transition from education to employment
Best practice guide: how to talk to students about apprenticeships
This guide helps you bring apprenticeships to life for your students. It includes practical advice, activities, and real examples from schools and colleges across London, Lancashire, and the North East.
Use it to find new ways to embed apprenticeship information into your lessons and career guidance.
Contact for further information
Regional pilots
Lancashire
- Schools and Employers: Lancashire Skills Hub
North East
- Schools: Early Connect
- Employers: Early Connect Business
Greater London
- Schools: LondonCareers@london.gov.uk
- Employers: Rezaul.Hussain@inspire-ebp.org.uk
- Early connect: Apprenticeship support | London City Hall
General queries
For any other queries, please contact us at engage.apprenticeships@education.gov.uk