UK employers have committed to recruiting 22,400 apprentices aged under 25 each year across professional and business services, under new jobs plans announced by the Government on 19 October. The plans also set out expanded routes into construction and other growth industries, as ministers seek to connect more young people with paid work, training and practical experience.

The announcement is part of the Government’s industrial strategy and youth employment programme. It brings employers, national departments and local skills partnerships together, with the stated aim of helping young people enter sectors where businesses expect to need more workers. The commitments are planned opportunities rather than a guarantee that every applicant will secure a place.

What has been announced?

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the Department for Work and Pensions say professional and business services firms have committed to 22,400 new apprenticeships for people under 25 each year over the next five years. The sector includes accountancy, legal services and consultancy, as well as roles involving data analytics, cyber security and artificial intelligence.

The plan also includes a 20% increase in work-experience opportunities for young people in professional and business services. Employers are expected to strengthen early-career recruitment and offer more routes for candidates who do not already have professional networks or relevant work experience.

Separately, the construction industry’s plans include 40,000 placements a year, building on a wider ambition to create 100,000 job opportunities annually across the sector. Roles could range from bricklaying, carpentry, electrical work and plumbing to surveying, engineering, planning and construction management.

Read the Government’s announcement of the Jobs Plans for the sector-by-sector commitments and details.

Which industries are included?

Professional and business services

Employers in this sector are expected to provide apprenticeship routes into traditional professional careers as well as technical roles. The Government says the commitments include opportunities linked to AI, cyber security and data analytics. The plan also refers to AI-literacy training, greater salary transparency in early-career recruitment and a proposed Good Jobs Standard for the sector.

Construction and the built environment

Construction employers face demand for skills across housing, infrastructure, repair and maintenance. The plan proposes a Construction Apprenticeship Network intended to help smaller firms recruit apprentices and improve coordination between training providers and employers. Actual opportunities will depend on participating employers, local demand and the availability of training places.

Other growth industries

The Government says further Jobs Plans for digital and technologies and defence are due later in the week. Previous plans have covered sectors including financial services, clean energy and life sciences. The overall approach is designed to align training with industries identified as important to the UK’s long-term growth.

What support is available for employers?

The announcement says the plans sit alongside a £2.5 billion youth employment package, including incentives intended to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to take on young apprentices. The Government has previously described an incentive of up to £2,000 for eligible SMEs that recruit an apprentice aged 16 to 24. Employers should check the current eligibility rules and application arrangements before making recruitment decisions.

For young people, the practical next step is to look for vacancies and training routes through employers, colleges, apprenticeship services and local careers advisers. The announcement describes sector-wide commitments; it does not provide a single application form covering all places.

What does it mean for young jobseekers?

The plans could broaden entry routes for school and college leavers, career changers and young people who need work experience before applying for permanent roles. Apprenticeships combine paid work with structured training, while placements can help candidates understand an occupation and build workplace skills.

However, the headline numbers should be interpreted carefully. Commitments across an industry are not the same as confirmed vacancies available today, and the number of places in each area will depend on employer participation and local skills needs. Applicants should confirm pay, duration, training arrangements and entry requirements with the organisation advertising a role.

What happens next?

The Government says local mayors, employers and Local Skills Improvement Plans will help shape training around regional labour-market needs. Further sector announcements are expected during the week, while a separate review led by Alan Milburn is examining barriers that keep young people out of employment, education and training.

For businesses, the challenge will be turning broad commitments into accessible, high-quality opportunities. For jobseekers, the key will be finding out which employers are recruiting locally and whether a role offers recognised training and a realistic route into longer-term work.

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