As National Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February 2026) celebrates the value of “Skills for Life,” it’s a perfect moment for the plumbing and heating sector to reflect on the progress we’ve made, and the work still needed, in nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals.
Why Apprenticeships Matter to Our Industry
Plumbing and heating professionals are the backbone of critical infrastructure, from safe water supply to energy-efficient heating systems and net-zero retrofit work. Yet despite strong demand, current figures show the broader apprenticeships landscape is only slowly improving: overall apprenticeship starts in England rose by around 7.7% in the first part of the 2025/26 academic year, with higher-level training increasing too.
However, the plumbing and heating sector faces a stark skills gap that threatens future capacity:
- Research indicates the sector faces a severe shortfall of skilled workers, with some data showing up to 79 job openings for every one apprenticeship place in trade occupations surveyed, a gap industry leaders warn could widen without urgent action.
- Within plumbing specifically, apprenticeship starts are reported to have fallen by around 37% since 2021/22 at a time when demand for qualified plumbers is expected to grow significantly to meet housing, water and net-zero targets.
- Government figures show that in England only a few hundred plumbing and domestic heating apprentices have completed their programmes this academic year, a marked decline from previous years and a concerning trend for the future workforce pipeline.
These figures underline a fundamental mismatch: industry demand far outstrips the number of qualified individuals coming through apprenticeship pathways.
What’s Happening with Apprenticeship Standards
There’s promising movement on the apprenticeship standards front, but the system remains in transition. APHC are working alongside Government and other industry stakeholders to help reform the current apprenticeship standard to ensure it’s fit for purpose.
However, challenges remain: employers continue to report barriers such as funding pressures, the time needed to train apprentices and difficulty finding the right candidates. A survey across trades showed 40% of respondents cited finding suitable apprentices as the biggest barrier, while 30% identified cost and funding concerns.
What Businesses Can Do (and the Support Available)
If you’re a plumbing and heating employer, there’s no better time to consider apprentices than now. Apprenticeships can:
- Grow your future workforce, tailored to the skills your business needs.
- Improve staff retention by investing early in talent.
- Bring fresh perspectives and up-to-date technical knowledge into your business.
Here’s how you can get started and find support:
- Explore funding and levy options
If your business pays the apprenticeship levy, you can use those funds to cover training costs. Even non-levy payers can access government incentives, bursaries and sometimes funding support from partner organisations. - Partner with training providers and local colleges
A strong relationship with providers helps ensure that apprentices’ practical and classroom learning complements your business needs. - Use government and national resources
The official National Apprenticeship Week website and toolkit contains guidance for employers on how to recruit, train and support apprentices. - Champion your apprenticeships internally and externally
Sharing apprentice success stories and offering clear development pathways encourages more candidates to consider trade careers.
It’s clear that apprenticeships are essential to the future of our sector, but we also need systemic improvements. Apprenticeship standards are under critical review, employers are pushing for more practical flexibility and the pipeline of new recruits must be widened. By working collaboratively, APHC, employers, training providers and policymakers can rebuild these pathways into ones that consistently deliver both quality and quantity.
This National Apprenticeship Week, let’s celebrate the apprentices already shaping our industry and commit to doing more for the next generation.