National Apprenticeship Week 2026 has given us an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of our employer partners who are helping our apprentices have the best possible start in their careers.
As part of this week of celebrations, we held an ‘Employer Thank You’ event at Accu Stadium which brought together organisations from different industries.
The main aim of the event was to celebrate and acknowledge some of the fantastic employers who have supported our apprentices and T Level students over the last twelve months.
There was also an opportunity at the event for Kirklees College students on work placement, and apprentices, to share their stories of how work and industry placement has helped them gain confidence and skills. Many thanked their employers and the college for giving them the opportunity to gain invaluable, real-world experience.
Read More | Apprentices reflect on career journey so far and their plans for the future
Dawn Turner, Business Development Manager at Kirklees College said:
“National Apprenticeship Week gives us a great opportunity to thank the employers who provide our apprentices with such valuable opportunities to start their careers. Looking ahead, we are always keen to work with more employers who want to support the next generation of talent, whether by joining our growing apprenticeships network or by offering students meaningful work and industry placements.”
Employers full of praise for Kirklees College
Andy Hall, Technical Director at Mac’s Trucks, has been working with Kirklees College for over 10 years. Speaking about the benefits of apprenticeships, Hall said: “I’m a big advocate for apprenticeships. I myself was an apprentice many years ago. Without apprenticeships, there is no new talent pipeline for businesses. We have kept every apprentice we have trained, and they have all gone on to do really well. Since 2016, our partnership with Kirklees College has welcomed 20 talented apprentices whose ambition, curiosity, and commitment have shaped the future of Trillium. Their industry placements don’t just build skills, they bring fresh energy.”
Charlotte Akroyd, Head of Manufacturing at HSL Chairs, added: “Our collaboration with Kirklees College has been a real catalyst for success in building our next generation of talent. By combining HSL’s industry expertise with the college’s high-quality delivery of the furniture industry’s apprenticeship standards, we’ve seen a real difference in our apprentices. Their growth in confidence, skill and capability is a real testament to what’s possible when education and industry work together.”
Become a Kirklees College employer partner
To find out more about apprenticeships at Kirklees College, including how to become one of our employer partners, visit https://www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships
You can also connect with the college’s Business Development team on LinkedIn by clicking here.
