UHI North, West and Hebrides Celebrates Scottish Apprenticeship week with major growth in Modern Apprenticeships

UHI North, West and Hebrides is celebrating a major expansion in Modern Apprenticeship (MA) activity across all regions, with projected enrolments for 2025/26 set to reach approximately 280 apprentices, almost double last year’s total of 142.

Strong Growth Across Key Sectors

Several sectors are showing exceptional momentum notably engineering and health and social care.  We also have growing numbers of enrolments in aquaculture, animal care, construction, food & drink, hospitality and hairdressing.

S-J Rogers, Work-based learning manager for UH North, West and Hebrides commented:

“We are delighted that this significant growth reflects strengthened employer engagement, rising demand across key sectors, and the success of targeted regional initiatives.

We’ve been able to clearly demonstrate that UHI North, West and Hebrides is a reliable, scalable provider, able to support workforce development at pace and scale across our region.

We’re also very proud that apprentices in many of our sectors including construction, vet nursing and administration continue to excel, achieving well over the national benchmark.” 

Sandra Gow at Gow’s Lybster Ltd, Caithness explained how Modern apprenticeships can offer a different career pathway:

“We believe modern apprenticeships open doors to talented individuals who may not follow traditional degree pathways. They allow apprentices to combine education and employment, gaining practical skills while earning, ultimately strengthening businesses and building a more capable workforce.” 

Andrew Duncan Logan - SVQ Aquaculture SCQF 5 with MOWI Scotland Limited said:

“Balancing work with learning varied with the seasons. When we were fallow (site empty), I was allowed to have set days for learning. This helped me progress through the units at a faster and more consistent pace. Getting recognition that I have learned and improved on all aspects within the industry gives me more pride to have a qualification in what I do for a living." 

To find out more about our Modern Apprenticeship frameworks and how they can benefit your company, visit Modern Apprenticeships - UHI North, West and Hebrides or email workbasedlearning.nwh@uhi.ac.uk