Introducing the SME Champion Providers Programme, equipping apprenticeship training providers to increase SME apprenticeship starts.
SME Champion Providers is a new programme aiming to equip apprenticeship training providers with evidence-based knowledge and skills to boost high-quality SME apprenticeships at levels 2-3. Our pilot cohort is running between January and June 2026, with places fully funded for all participants thanks to our partnership with Youth Futures Foundation.
What's the thinking behind the programme?
We believe that increasing SME apprenticeships is key to unlocking an increase in overall apprenticeship starts – and in ensuring there are inclusive opportunities for young people in every community. We also know that SMEs find apprenticeships tricky to navigate successfully - and what the most effective training providers are doing to buck these trends and stand out from the crowd.
The programme is part of our partnership with Youth Futures Foundation and Amazing Apprenticeships to increase the number of apprenticeship starts at levels 2 and 3.
How does the programme work?
The programme is being delivered over six 90-minute sessions, facilitated online. Sesssions take place fortnightly, over 12 weeks between January and March 2026. At the end of the sessions, participants will deliver a change initiative in their organisations. In June 2026, we'll bring the cohort back together for a final session to share the projects and celebrate their impact.
What does the programme cover?
The facilitated sessions follow the SME journey, from recruitment and onboarding to assessment. Along the way, we'll cover communications, risk management, quality assurance, and lots more. The final session looks at how providers can have a voice in policy making.
Who is taking part in the programme?
Our pilot cohort, selected from applicants in December 2025, includes providers from all parts of the sector - including FE Colleges and ITPs, of all sizes, and from a range of locations in England.
From each provider, one senior leader is the core participant, attending all sessions and implementing a change initiative in their organisation. We invite each core participant to bring an operational colleague to each session, choosing the most appropriate person for the subject matter on each occasion. This is likely to be someone in a managerial role. It might be the same person for all sessions, or could be someone different for each session.
How will participants and their organisations benefit from taking part in the pilot?
- Providers will benefit from evidence-informed training to learn from best practice and develop successful strategies to support SMEs to succeed with apprenticeships - ultimately resulting in more starts.
- Participants will develop their own leadership skills, amongst a network of peers equally committed to increasing SME apprenticeships to benefit young people.
- As part of our pilot cohort, participants will be shaping a programme with the potential to support a renewed commitment to SME apprenticeships across the sector.
How will we measure the impact of the programme?
We are collecting data from each provider taking part in the pilot cohort, to provide quantitative evidence as to whether there is an increase in SME starts between September 2025 (pre programme) and September 2026 (post programme). We will present this alongside case studies, feedback from participants, and information about their change initiatives.
What happens after the pilot?
That depends how successful it is! We hope that this will prove to be a model that could be rolled out more widely. If you would like to discuss this with us, please use our contact form to arrange a conversation.