The Sunderland-headquartered travel agents Hays Travel has been ranked by the government as 13th in the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers for 2026. The North East Ambulance Service at 15th and Northumbria Police at 31st are also in the list.
Those listed are said by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to be recognised for powering the next generation of skilled workers through high quality, engaging apprenticeships. The government is aiming to create 50,000 new apprenticeships for those aged 16-24.
BAE Systems tops the DWP’s latest apprenticeships rankings of leading employers named in the annual Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and separate Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers for 2026 published by the DWP in partnership with careers site Higherin.
These lists, said the DWP, showcase employers who are opening up career pathways and delivering skilled workers through apprenticeships across the country. The lists highlight the breadth of careers young people can kickstart with an apprenticeship, with defence and security specialist BAE Systems named the country’s number one apprenticeship employer and LJ Construction Carpentry Contractors Ltd of Banbury, Oxfordshire, named the top SME apprenticeship employer.
Rewarding careers
Apprenticeships , said the DWP, offer a powerful route into rewarding careers for young people, providing an earn-as-you-learn opportunity that combines real-world experience with nationally recognised qualifications. The government, it said, was boosting the number of apprenticeship opportunities available to young people as a priority, building the skilled, motivated workforce that businesses and the economy need.
Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith said: “From household names to ambitious local businesses, these organisations show what is possible when employers put skills at the heart of their growth. The skills, confidence and professional networks that apprenticeships provide give young people their first step onto the career ladder, and the foundation for a rewarding, lifelong career.
Our reforms are giving employers the freedom to invest in talent, and together we’re building a workforce ready for the future.”
By reforming the Growth and Skills Levy to give employers greater flexibility and funding incentives of up to £8,000 per young apprentice, the government says it is making it easier than ever for businesses to take on the next generation of apprentices. Additional support is available for smaller businesses to help them build the talent pipeline they need to grow.
These reforms, according to the DWP, are the biggest transformation of the system in a decade to ensure it is fit for purpose, delivers value for money, and gives businesses the flexibility they need to invest in the talent that will drive growth.
Skills for priority sectors
Central to this was a refocusing of investment towards equipping young people with the skills needed for priority sectors, with foundation apprenticeship units in key sectors including construction, engineering and manufacturing and digital opening up more opportunities than ever before.
Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, chief operating officer of Hays Travel, said: “We are delighted to place 13th in the government’s top apprenticeship employers list. Apprentices have played a key role in our business throughout our 46-year history, with many of our current senior leadership team beginning their careers on similar programmes. We are very proud of this recognition which is testament to the hard work our teams put in behind the scenes to make our programme award winning.”
Hays Travel, a family-owned business, said it was planning to take on 268 apprentices this year at its Sunderland HQ and 530 branches across the UK with 4,800 employees.
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