National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Celebrating Skills for Life

From 10–16 February 2025, we’re joining the nationwide celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), the biggest event in the apprenticeships and skills calendar!

This year marks the 18th annual NAW, bringing together apprentices, employers, training providers, parents, schools, colleges, universities, and End Point Assessment Organisations to celebrate the value and impact of apprenticeships across the UK. The theme for 2025, Skills for Life, shines a spotlight on how apprenticeships equip individuals with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to forge successful careers while enabling employers to fill critical skills gaps and grow their teams.

What is National Apprenticeship Week?

NAW is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of apprentices and highlight the essential role they play in shaping the future workforce. Apprenticeships offer more than just qualifications – they provide a practical and affordable way for learners to gain experience, develop expertise, and build careers that truly matter.

For employers, apprenticeships are an invaluable tool for developing skilled, loyal teams, addressing workforce challenges, and creating opportunities to future-proof their businesses.

This week-long celebration is all about sharing inspiring stories, showcasing the benefits of apprenticeships, and promoting the progression opportunities they offer.

What We’re Doing to Celebrate NAW 2025

At CILEX, we’re passionate about the transformative power of apprenticeships, and this year, we’re going all out to celebrate the theme of Skills for Life. Here’s a look at what we have planned:

Monday: Skills for Life Day

We’re kicking off NAW 2025 by celebrating how apprenticeships create career-defining opportunities. Look out for inspiring social media stories that highlight how CILEX apprenticeships are shaping the future of law.

Employer Tuesday

Tuesday is all about businesses! We’ll be sharing success stories from employers who have embraced apprenticeships to strengthen their teams and fill vital skills gaps. This is also a great time to explore how your business can benefit from hiring a CILEX apprentice.

Apprentice Wednesday

Our spotlight will shift to apprentices on Wednesday as we showcase their journeys, successes, and aspirations. Through blog, videos, and testimonials, we’ll demonstrate how apprenticeships unlock incredible opportunities for individuals.

Celebration Friday

We’ll close the week by throwing it back to some of our most memorable moments, including highlights from our 2024 Graduation and Admission Ceremony. Stay tuned as we celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing apprentices and the employers who supported them!

Why Employers Should Get Involved

For employers, apprenticeships are more than a hiring strategy – they’re an investment in your business’s future. By hiring a CILEX apprentice, you gain:

1. Skilled professionals trained in real-world legal practice.
2. A cost-effective way to address workforce challenges and improve retention.
3. Access to government funding and resources to support your training needs.

📣 “"The CILEX apprenticeship route has been really successful for us as a firm, engaging in new recruits and also developing existing members of staff. The apprentices who have completed the course are really adding value to our firm." - Sarah Johnson, Fraser Dawbarns. 

Whether you’re a small business or a large organisation, CILEX apprenticeships can help you develop a workforce equipped to thrive in a fast-changing industry.

What Apprenticeships Offer to Aspiring Professionals

For those considering their next step, apprenticeships offer an incredible opportunity to launch a successful and fulfilling career. Combining on-the-job training with academic study, apprenticeships provide real-world experience, professional qualifications, and a clear pathway into your chosen field. Unlike traditional education routes, apprenticeships allow you to earn while you learn, eliminating the burden of student debt and giving you practical skills that employers value.

CILEX apprenticeships are designed to open the door to a rewarding legal career, equipping you with the knowledge, confidence, and hands-on experience needed to excel in the fast-paced world of law. Whether you’re just starting out, looking to change careers, or aiming to progress in the legal sector, an apprenticeship can give you the skills and support to achieve your goals.

📣 “"My CILEX apprenticeship will help me to achieve my long-term career goals in becoming a lawyer in just a few years which makes me really excited to think that I will be able to work in the firm with all my previous hands-on experience that I've had and legal knowledge specialised through CILEX" - Alice Gill, Fraser Dawbarns.

Your career in law starts here – explore our apprenticeship options today!

How You Can Join the Celebration

We encourage everyone to get involved during National Apprenticeship Week! Here’s how:

1. Follow the Conversation: Join us on social media as we share inspiring stories and celebrate apprenticeships using the hashtags #NAW2025 and #SkillsForLife.
2. Learn More: Explore our apprenticeship offerings and discover how CILEX can support your journey. 
3. Spread the Word: Share your own apprenticeship stories or successes to inspire others!

Together, we can showcase the transformative power of apprenticeships and inspire the next generation of legal professionals.

Final Thoughts

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 is more than just a celebration – it’s a call to action. Whether you’re a business looking to strengthen your team or an individual seeking a career-defining opportunity, now is the perfect time to explore the benefits of apprenticeships.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we share more stories, insights, and resources to help you make the most of Skills for Life.

Ready to start your apprenticeship journey? Visit our website to learn more about CILEX apprenticeships today.