1. About this report

This report presents information on ApprenticeshipsNI programmes in Further Education Colleges and other Training Organisations at Levels 2, 2/3 and 3. ApprenticeshipsNI aims to:

  • provide apprentices with the knowledge, understanding, and competence to work at a higher level in their chosen occupation;
  • offer high quality training to fulfil the requirements of an appropriate Apprenticeship Framework;
  • contribute to raising the skills level of the Northern Ireland workforce;
  • provide opportunities for progression to further and higher education and training; and
  • encourage the direct involvement of employers in training key personnel.

The statistics presented detail starts, occupancy, leavers and outcomes for participants on these programmes.


2. Key facts and figures

  • There were 5,108 starts in 2022/23, the majority of which were at Level 2 (51%)

  • There were 10,993 participants on ApprenticeshipsNI (4,840 at Level 2, 758 at Level 2/3 and 5,395 at Level 3) at the end of January 2024.

  • Level 3 Apprenticeships account for 42% of all those participants starting in the latest academic year.

  • “Electrotechnical”, “Engineering” and “Construction” are the three most popular frameworks for the current occupancy quarter.

  • Males account for 75% of current participants. The proportion of male participants is highest in the Level 2/3 Apprenticeship group at 93%.

  • More than half (57%) of those who left Level 2 Apprenticeships in 2022/23, achieved a Level 2 Framework.

  • Almost two thirds (64%) of those who left Level 3 Apprenticeships in 2022/23, achieved a Level 3 Framework.


3. Starts

There were 5,108 starts in 2022/23; 2,614 (51%) at Level 2, 327 (6%) at Level 2/3 and 2,167 (42%) at Level 3. This total was a 12% decrease from 2018/19 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Number of ApprenticeshipsNI Starts by Level (2018/19 to 2022/23)

In 2022/23, 2,340, (46%) starts were in Other Training organisations while 2,768 (54%) starts were in FE Colleges.

STEM accounted for 3,252 starts in 2022/23 (1,553 at level 2, 305 at Level 2/3 and 1,394 at Level 3). This was an 8% increase from 2018/19.

Covid-19 may have had an effect on the number of starts, with fewer potential participants having the opportunity to join a programme. Other participants may have joined an ApprenticeshipsNI programme later than they had originally anticipated. It is important to note that the total number of participants who joined the programme in 2020/21 was similar to pre-pandemic years at 5,741.

Figure 2: ApprenticeshipsNI Starts by Age at Start of Programme (2018/19 to 2022/23)

Participants aged 16 to 19 years accounted for 3,252 (64%) of starts, while those aged 20 to 24 years accounted for 1,552 (30%) starts and those aged 25 years and over accounted for 304 (6%) of starts (Figure 2).

Around three quarters (73%) of starts were male.


4. Occupancy

Between the quarters ending in October 2018 and January 2024, occupancy increased from 8,351 to 10,993, an increase of 32%. The highest occupancy period was Nov-Jan 24 at 10,993 (Figure 3).

Occupancy may have been affected by Covid-19, as there may have been fewer starts than anticipated in some quarters as some potential participants may not have had the opportunity of joining a programme. Conversely, some participants may have stayed on the programme longer than normal to complete their qualification.

Figure 3: All participants in ApprenticeshipsNI by Sex (August 2018 to January 2024)

Figure 4 shows the percentage of occupants at each level of ApprenticeshipsNI at the end of January 2024. Of the total of 10,993 participants, 4,840 (44%) were on Level 2; 758 were on Level 2/3 (7%), and 5,395 (49%) participants were on the Level 3 route.

Figure 4: All participants on ApprenticeshipsNI by Level (January 2024)

Males (8,257) accounted for 75% of participants; males making up the majority of participants at each Level of ApprenticeshipsNI. This was particularly noticeable at Level 2/3 (Males: 705, Females: 53).

Males accounted for 92% of participants studying STEM subjects at Level 2, 96% at Level 2/3 and 96% at Level 3.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Local Government District had the highest number of participants on ApprenticeshipsNI at 1,356 (12%).

Almost half (47%) of participants at Level 2 were in the bottom two quintiles compared with two-fifths (41%) of Level 2/3 and Level 3 participants (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Participants on ApprenticeshipsNI by Deprivation Quintile and Level (January 2024)

The three most common frameworks at Level 2 based on current occupancy are “Construction”, “Engineering”, and “Vehicle Maintenance and Repair”. For Level 2/3, the top three are “Engineering”, “Vehicle Maintenance and Repair”, and “Construction Crafts”. For Level 3, the three most numerous are “Electrotechnical”, “Health and Social Care” and “Construction Crafts”.

Female participation is highest on frameworks including “Children’s Care Learning and Development” (98%), “Hairdressing” (96%), and “Pharmacy Services” (96%). There are popular frameworks where participation by gender is more balanced including “Team Leading” (48% male, 52% female), “Providing Financial Services” (51% male, 49% female), and “Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing” (56% male, 44% female).

The ApprenticeshipsNI provision is employer/demand led. The gender balance is a reflection of employment in various occupational areas and is outside the control of ApprenticeshipsNI and the Department for the Economy.


5. Leavers and Main Outcomes

In 2022/23, 5,728 participants left ApprenticeshipsNI courses; 3,086 at Level 2, 290 at Level 2/3 and 2,352 at Level 3.

More than half (57%) of participants achieved a Level 2 Full Framework (Figure 6). This was 5 percentage points less than 2018/19 but 14 percentage points more than 2020/21.

Approximately two thirds (64%) of participants on Level 2/3 and Level 3 ApprenticeshipsNI courses obtained a Full Framework at Level 3 (Figure 6). This was 15 percentage points more than 2021/22.

Covid-19 may have had an effect on the number of leavers in 2020/21 and 2021/22 as some participants may not have had the opportunity of completing their apprenticeships and may have stayed on the course to do so.

Figure 6: Percentage of Full Frameworks Achieved by ApprenticeshipsNI Leavers (2018/19 to 2022/23)


Associated Tables

Detailed tables can be downloaded from the ApprenticeshipsNI page in excel format on the Department for the Economy website. These include a Notes and definitions table which explains the definitions underlying the data presented in this Statistical Bulletin.


Official Statistics

For further details on any of these statistics, or to provide feedback, contact Mervyn.Wilson@economy-ni.gov.uk (telephone: 028 9025 7506) or Glynn.Robinson@economy-ni.gov.uk (telephone: 028 9025 7594).

This publication is produced by Youth Training Statistics and Research Branch, Analytical Services Division, Department for the Economy.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards by emailing (branch of lead statistician email address). Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.