Apprenticeships Unlocked 2026 – Another Sold-Out Year to Remember

Held at Bournemouth Pavilion ahead of National Apprenticeships Week (February 9th– 13th), Apprenticeships Unlocked is the college’s flagship annual event, bringing apprentices and employers together to explore the apprenticeship route. This year, we welcomed over 30 employers from sectors including Construction, Health, Beauty, Business, Catering, Automotive and Engineering.

Students attending Apprenticeships Unlocked explored the growing importance of combining paid employment with structured training. The event highlighted the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities available locally, explained how apprenticeships work, and connected prospective apprentices with employers actively recruiting new talent.

Attendees learned how apprenticeships offer nationally recognised qualifications alongside real-world experience, with clear progression routes from Level 2 through to degree-level study. For many, the event marked a first step in viewing apprenticeships as a long-term career pathway rather than a short-term training option.

Employers praised both the quality of conversations and the enthusiasm of attendees. A representative from Dorset Police said they’d had some good and ‘very meaningful interactions’ all night. Quillan McCulloch and Jack Gunter at BIS Valves said: “There were so many very keen students tonight, and some more mature students were represented and showed interest at degree level.”

Jodie Berry, attending the event on behalf of students at BCP Virtual School, enthused that it was a “very informative event, we established useful links and engaged with lots of employers”. Her colleague, Ness, added, “What a fantastic event!”

Employers represented on the night included:

• Bartlett Contractors Limited
• Berthon
• BH Area Hospitality Association & Marsham Court Hotel & Hotel Collingwood
• BIS Valves Ltd
• Blanchard Wells Limited
• Bournemouth University
• Bournemouth University (Business School)
• Breeze Motor Group
• Carnival UK
• CBRE
• Curtiss-Wright
• DHAP Engineering
• Dorset Healthcare
• Dorset Police
• Draken
• Gel Engineering
• Greendale Construction Limited
• Health Sciences University
• JP Morgan
• Muddy Boots
• Parker (Heatric)
• RNLI
• Rockley College
• Sunseeker International
• Superior Seals Ltd
• Suttle Projects
• TKMS ATLAS UK
• Unique Group (S.W)
• University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
• YTL UK & Wessex Water
• Yunex Traffic.

Antony Carr, Executive Director of Higher Education and Skills at the college, said: “We’re seeing strong demand from employers looking to grow their workforce by developing skills from within, alongside increasing interest from people of all ages who want meaningful, paid career pathways with qualifications and clear progression.

He continued: “Apprenticeships are no longer seen as an alternative option – they are a first-choice route into skilled, sustainable employment.”

The college currently supports 2,000 apprentices on programmes, working in partnership with over 800 local and national employers. An outstanding 99% of apprentices successfully achieve their End Point Assessment (EPA) and progress into sustained employment or further training. 

With achievement rates significantly higher than the national average, Bournemouth and Poole College remains one of the largest apprenticeship providers in the South West.