This week, we’re celebrating National Apprenticeship Week in the UK. It’s a chance to spotlight the incredible impact apprenticeships can have on individuals, employers, and society – helping people build skills for life while supporting workforce development and economic growth.
Key takeaways:
- We’re celebrating Skills for Life this National Apprenticeship Week, and the apprentices who embody this spirit.
- As workforce skills continue to evolve, apprentices link learning and work through real-world, on-the-job experience.
- Pearson is proud to support thousands of apprentices and their employers through End-Point Assessment.
Celebrating ‘Skills for Life’
This year’s theme, Skills for Life, highlights the growing importance of lifelong learning in a world being reshaped by new technologies. As AI and automation change how work gets done, skills can quickly lose relevance and value. That’s why building a strong “learning to learn” muscle matters more than ever – and why on-the-job learning, embedded in the flow of work, is becoming vital to success. Apprenticeships embody this spirit, bringing together academic knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience to help people adapt, grow and thrive as work evolves.
Shining a light on our apprentices
Pearson has supported over 25,000 apprentices since 2018 as an End-Point Assessment (EPA) organisation, working with 3,400 employers achieving an overall pass rate of 98%. Behind every qualification is a personal story of growth, confidence, and opportunity. Danielle, Nicholas, and Petronela share theirs:
Sgt. Danielle Thacker, Ammunition Technician, Royal Logistics Corp, earned a Distinction on the Level 4 Ordnance Munitions and Explosives Technician apprenticeship with Pearson TQ, the first woman in her unit to do so. “Completing the EPA proved to myself that I knew my job better than I thought,” Danielle explained. Practical highlights included demolitions and guided missile firings. She has since passed Class 1, been promoted to Sergeant, and is pursuing Explosive Ordnance Disposal courses. She would recommend apprenticeships to others: “Getting an industry-recognised qualification will set you up well in the future, particularly when moving into civilian life.”
Sgt. Danielle Thacker
Thales UK Project Manager, Nicholas Karkeek’s Level 5 Operations Manager apprenticeship sharpened his leadership, active listening, and project management skills, making him more reflective and team-focused. “I take a step back to process situations before inputting actions,” he says. By ring-fencing study time, he earned a Distinction, delivered high-profile projects including the Thales Charity Golf Day, and now leads a major programme at the company.
Nicholas Karkeek
Petronela Bodnari, Recruiter in the Talent Acquisition team at Pearson undertook a Level 3 Recruitment Consultant apprenticeship. She was recognised as London Region Winner and National Highly Commended in the BAE Systems Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2025. She credits her apprenticeship with accelerating her professional and personal development, through clearer communication, new connections, and stronger self-belief. As she puts it, “My apprenticeship didn’t just shape my career, it unlocked my confidence and showed me what I’m capable of.”
Petronela Bodnari
Skills for Life in practice
These stories capture the essence of Skills for Life – learning that evolves alongside work, helping people build confidence, open doors, and prepare for the future. Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director, Pearson Qualifications, adds: “I couldn’t be prouder of the role we play in supporting apprentices both within our own business and from all walks of life.”
Find out more about Pearson’s apprenticeship offerings in the UK: