Learning providers across the world have had to adapt to delivering programmes for young people online due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has been a new experience for the majority of pre-apprenticeship and other work-based learning providers. Meanwhile, labour markets across the world are constantly changing and young people need a wide range of skills in order to build sustainable, successful, and rewarding careers.

L&W have developed a set of resources to support pre-apprenticeship providers with the design and delivery of high-quality programmes that support young people to enter apprenticeships.

  • A resource for providers for skills development on pre-apprenticeship programmes – Basic skills, digital skills, employability, and transversal/soft skills are crucial in preparing young people for an apprenticeship and for building successful careers. This practical resource will enable pre-apprenticeship providers to develop and enhance their programmes to ensure that young people are equipped with the key skills they need for the future.
  • A guide for providers on designing and delivering pre-apprenticeship programmes
  • A guide for providers on blended learning on pre-apprenticeship programmes – This new resource contains practical information and guidance to enable providers to learn from wider research and practice in delivering effective blended learning programmes. It draws on evidence and lessons learned from pre-apprenticeship programmes across the UK, Europe and more widely.

Designing and delivering pre-apprenticeships: a provider guide

This resource has been developed for pre-apprenticeship providers who want to develop and expand their programmes, and for providers who do not currently offer pre-apprenticeships but who plan to do so in the future.

Blended learning on pre-apprenticeship programmes: a guide for providers

This resource has been developed to support pre-apprenticeship providers to adapt to a blended learning approach and contains advice and guidance to support providers to learn from wider research and practice in delivering blended learning.

Skills development on pre-apprenticeship programmes: a provider resource

This resource has been developed for pre-apprenticeship providers who wish to develop and enhance their programme to ensure that young people are equipped with the key skills they need for an apprenticeship and their future career.

Additional resources

20 January 2026

Labour market dashboard

Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.

Read more

24 December 2025

Falling short: Understanding further falls in employer training

This briefing looks at how employer investment in training continues to fall – now down 36% per employee since 2005 – and argues that we must turn this around to improve economic growth.

Read more

22 December 2025

From confusion to clarity: rethinking England’s 670 occupational standards

L&W’s Stephen Evans and Pearson’s Donna Ford-Clarke reflect on findings from our recent research on England’s occupational standards – of which there are now more than double the number in countries like Germany and Switzerland.

Read more

27 November 2025

Responding to the full year apprenticeships data release

Learning and Work Institute’s Deputy Head of Research Dr Corin Egglestone responds to the full year apprenticeships data released on 27 November 2025.

Read more

18 November 2025

Responding to higher technical skills needs

Supported by Gatsby Charitable Foundation, this report explores employer and employee decision making about training and the development of higher technical skills.

Read more

7 November 2025

No train no gain

This research, supported by Multiverse, finds that access to training is a boon for people’s pay and careers. The training dividend is greatest for those on the lower rungs of the occupational ladder, helping them go further, faster.

Read more

7 November 2025

Working class people paid more when they get training from their employer

Experts are calling on the Government to do more to get employers investing in training, as research reveals it’s a “boon for people’s pay and careers” – particularly for working class people.

Read more

5 November 2025

Investing in skills: International policy insights for the UK

This report is the first in a series of three publications supported by the Nuffield Foundation that present the findings from multi-year research into employer investment in upskilling and reskilling in a changing economy.

Read more

5 November 2025

Responding to the final report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review

Learning and Work Institute’s Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the final report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

Read more