Warrington & Vale Royal College is hosting a series of events for National Apprenticeship Week 2026 from February 9 to February 15, 2026, to help school leavers in Warrington, Cheshire, find work and training. The college, which was ranked among England’s top ten further education colleges for apprenticeship achievement rates, is holding open evenings and recruitment sessions at its campuses on Winwick Road in Warrington and at its Winsford campus. These activities aim to connect young people with local employers to help fill jobs in the nuclear, construction and health sectors.
The events include sessions where people can meet employers and apply for open jobs. According to the college, these activities help local businesses find the workers they need for large projects such as new housing developments. Students can also take part in hands-on workshops in the college’s Advanced Manufacturing and Health academies to see the equipment they would use on the job.
This year’s programme places emphasis on 16–21 year-olds following a change to apprenticeship funding that took effect on January 1, 2026 — the government now restricts funding for Level 7 (master’s-level) apprenticeships to new apprentices who are aged 16–21 when they start. The college says it is working with over 500 local and regional employers to help them use their Apprenticeship Levy and other training funds to recruit new staff.
Warrington Borough Council has stated that quality vocational training is a priority to help increase incomes for families in the area. Principal & Chief Executive Nichola Newton said, “Our apprenticeship programme is designed to provide local students with industry-recognised training while directly supporting the major infrastructure projects currently transforming Cheshire.” The college hopes these measures will supply the talent needed to keep local infrastructure and housing developments moving forward.
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