Everyone has the right to live, learn and work in safety, free from abuse, harm and neglect
Access Help & Support
Pathwaylogocolorfull

Promoting Diversity in Apprenticeships

For too long, apprenticeships have been misunderstood. Unfortunately, people have different thoughts and misconceptions when they hear the word apprenticeship. We’re committed to removing the stigma and inequalities surrounding apprenticeships. The best people to promote apprenticeships are the apprentices themselves.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2016

Apprenticeships provide value for individuals, businesses and the economy. There is a universal commitment in the UK of being able to extend opportunities for everyone regardless of their race, gender or religion. In this respect, a number of government targets have been placed to improve the labour market chances for all. These include increasing the quantity of apprenticeships taken on by young people deriving from BME backgrounds by 20% and also increasing BME employment by another 20%, by the year 2020.

The Asian Apprenticeship Awards are all about doing something practical to make a positive difference. We believe at least in a small way that we have made a difference and will continue to do so by highlighting, recognising and celebrating apprenticeship success both with individuals, employers and learning providers that support them. We all recognise that for the success of businesses and therefore the economy and the country as a whole, we have to be able to draw upon a skilled and motivated workforce.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2016

It is also clear that our apprentices are vital to providing these skills. However, there are not enough of them and especially not enough from the British Asian communities. So the challenge for us is how to address this issue. Our aspiration is that the Asian Apprenticeship Awards will make an important contribution by raising awareness, celebrating success and inspiring others.

The Awards would not be possible without the vison and support of many people. This includes the core team, judges and ambassadors who have given their time and effort for the cause, as well our sponsors and partners who have backed us with this initiative. Most of all we need to thank the excellent apprentices that have taken part and also the businesses and organisations that employ and support them.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2017

The aim of the awards is to celebrate and showcase the best of British Asian Apprentices and the people that employ and train them. In doing this, we hope that we will encourage more young British Asians to consider apprenticeships and more employers to provide opportunities to benefit from the skills that apprentices bring. Apprenticeships provide value for individuals, businesses and the economy.

There is a universal commitment in the UK of being able to extend opportunities for everyone regardless of their race, gender or religion. In this respect, a number of government targets have been placed to improve the labour market chances for all. These include increasing the quantity of apprenticeships taken on by young people deriving from BAME backgrounds by 20% and increasing BAME employment by another 20%, by the year 2020.

The Asian Apprenticeship Awards are all about doing something practical to make a positive difference. We believe at least in a small way that we have made a difference and will continue to do so by highlighting, recognising and celebrating apprenticeship success with both individuals, employers and learning providers that support them.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2017

We all recognise that for the success of businesses and therefore the economy and the country as a whole, we have to be able to draw upon a skilled and motivated workforce. It is also clear that our apprentices are vital to providing these skills. However, there are not enough of them and especially not enough from the British Asian communities. Therefore, the challenge for us is how to address this issue. Our aspiration is that the Asian Apprenticeship Awards will make an important contribution by raising awareness, celebrating success and inspiring others.

The Awards would not be possible without the vision and support of many people. This includes the core team, judges and ambassadors who have given their time and effort for the cause, as well our sponsors and partners who have backed us with this initiative. Most of all we need to thank the excellent apprentices that have taken part and the businesses and organisations that employ and support them.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2018

The aim of the awards is to celebrate and showcase the best of British Asian Apprentices and the people that employ and train them. In doing this, we hope that we will encourage more young British Asians to consider apprenticeships and more employers to provide opportunities to benefit from the skills that apprentices bring. Apprenticeships provide value for individuals, businesses and the economy and now are more often about a right of passage throughout a career, and not just the start!

We all recognise that for the success of businesses and therefore the economy and the country as a whole, we have to be able to draw upon a skilled and motivated workforce. It is also clear that our apprentices are vital to providing these skills.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2018

However, there are not enough of them and especially not enough from the British Asian communities. Therefore, the challenge for us is how to address this issue. Our aim is that the Asian Apprenticeship Awards will make an important contribution by continuing to raise awareness, celebrating success and inspiring others.

The awards would not be possible without the vision and support of many people. This includes the core team, judges and ambassadors who have given their time and effort for the cause, as well our sponsors and partners who have backed us with this initiative. Most of all we need to thank the excellent apprentices that have taken part and the businesses and organisations that employ and support them.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2019

The Awards give a platform to talented apprentices from British Asian backgrounds and provide excellent role models for others, often from similar backgrounds to show that they, too, could get ahead through an apprenticeship.

This is our fourth awards ceremony and we continue to raise awareness, celebrate success and inspire others. Despite the positive difference we have made collectively, I feel like we’ve barely even begun to scratch the surface.

We need all of us to keep on scratching that surface until we break through, and can attract apprentices from all backgrounds and from all sections of the community. So while we’re working towards a longer-term cultural change, in the short-term let’s use the tools we have at our disposal, grow the positive action and build on the many examples of good practice that already exist, so that we can build a more balanced workforce for the future.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2019

The awards would not be possible without the vision and support of many people including our judges and ambassadors, who have given their time and effort for the cause, as well our sponsors and partners who have backed us with this initiative. We all need to thank the excellent apprentices that have taken part and the businesses and organisations that employ and support them.

BAME Apprenticeship Awards 2020

The last 9 months have been unprecedented on so many levels – COVID 19 has caused huge disruption for individuals, families, businesses and economies across the world. And in the summer of 2020, we saw people around the world coming together to call for an end to systematic racism, with many businesses actively engaging in dialogue and actions to move the dial on race and drive diversity, inclusion and equity for all.

Against this backdrop the celebration of BAME Apprentices has real meaning and resonance – providing an opportunity to showcase talent, creating role models and inspirational leaders of the future. That is why we at Pearson are so proud to be sponsoring the BAME Apprenticeships Awards; our mission is to provide access and progression for all through learning, helping individuals realise their potential, ambition and aspirations.

BAME Apprenticeship Awards 2020


We know that there is currently an under-representation of BAME apprentices across all levels and sectors in our economy. We also know that the careers and skills landscapes were changing before COVID-19 – and, as with so many things, the pandemic has accelerated this. The make-up of the workforce and careers is going
to continue to change and evolve in the coming months and years with greater automation, a shift to digital enabled roles and transformation happening across many business sectors.

Apprenticeships will continue to play a vital role as we recover from the disruption of COVID and we need to ensure that BAME talent are able to access opportunities as we move forward.

In partnership with Thinkfest Ltd, employers and partners, we will continue to highlight the importance of apprenticeships and a diverse talent pool in helping individuals, businesses and our economy thrive. The BAME Apprenticeship Awards are a valuable platform, that has been successful in highlighting exceptional BAME talent and employers who are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all ethnicities, can make a valuable contribution, have a sense of belonging and flourish.

BAME Apprenticeship Awards 2021

Celebrating Talent & Diversity

The BAME Apprenticeship Awards recognises British BAME Apprentices, their employers and learning providers.

This year over 100 apprentices across a wide range of industry sectors have been shortlisted for an award, with one outstanding winner to be crowned BAME Apprentice of the Year 2021 on the night!

As well as recognising the apprentices, the awards also champion employers and learning providers for their contributions towards apprenticeships.

Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2021

BAME Apprentice Network

Closing The Diversity Gap in Apprenticeships – The BAME Apprentice Network is a Community of Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic (BAME) Apprentices that aims to change apprenticeships’ landscape, empowering apprentices to develop personally and professionally, as well as championing change within the sector.

The BAME Apprentice Network not only acts as an aid for apprentices but also supports employers on their journey to making a meaningful difference to their Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion policy. BAME Apprentice Network is overseen by two very important committees, an executive committee and an apprentice committee that meet regularly to discuss issues and make decisions on delivering our objectives.

BAME Apprentice Network

Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2022

Celebrating Talent & Diversity
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards recognise Multicultural British Apprentices, their employers and learning providers.

Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

BAME in the News