Six emerging trends to watch in apprenticeships and training for 2025

The days are getting shorter and the blustery autumn weather is in full swing, which means we’re fast approaching a new year. What are the trends to watch in the apprenticeship and training industry for 2025?

Six emerging trends to watch in apprenticeships and training for 2025

The education landscape is undergoing huge changes, as technology continues to develop at a rapid pace. Tools that would have seemed otherworldly even five years ago are now readily available, and transforming how educators plan and deliver effective training.

The key training trends in 2025 will reflect the ongoing impact of AI, as well as wider economic factors and government policy. From simulation-based learning to greater emphasis on soft skills, here’s what to look out for.

Top trends in the apprenticeship sector for 2025

1. A step change in quality 

Quality has been a critical area in training provision for years, with the apprenticeship accountability framework encouraging providers to be proactive about their own improvement. 

Efforts to deliver higher quality training are often hampered by a lack of time, but AI-powered tools have the potential to save trainers dozens of hours every week. Whether it’s designing curricula or speeding up marking, AI can now be used to automate a wide range of tasks.

These capabilities will give providers the time and headspace to review their performance, identify areas to improve quality and put fresh ideas into action. As a result, we should see a step change across the industry and new standards being set for training.

2. Collaboration driven by Skills England

Industry collaboration will be a major trend in 2025, as Skills England begins consultations to assess skills needs and determine what training should be accessible through the Growth and Skills Levy.

Skills England aims to bring together local authorities, employers, industry bodies, training providers and colleges to build a coherent national picture of skills needs. In addition to ensuring learners are being taught the right skills, these conversations should open up exciting opportunities to:

• Exchange best practices 

• Share data and insights

• Work together to address skills system challenges 

3. Renewed focus on soft skills

Skills needs aren’t limited to technical skills either. Soft skills like problem solving, resilience and emotional intelligence are increasingly important in apprenticeships, as businesses start automating basic tasks and require more strategic decision making.

A key training trend for 2025 will be a focus on developing soft skills that will help learners work effectively in fast-paced, technology-driven environments. 

Self-management skills are a particularly critical area for improvement, relating to an estimated 72% of all skills gaps. This includes inability among staff to manage their own time, prioritise tasks or manage their feelings and the feelings of others. 

4. AI-driven simulations for active learning

Immersive learning has huge potential in education, but the cost of equipment still poses a barrier to widespread adoption. While we expect to see more experiential learning in 2025, it will likely be done in a budget-friendly way.

Simulation-based learning involves creating a representation of a real-life event or learning situation. Like immersive learning, learners can test how they would respond to realistic challenges, but in a safe and controlled environment. 

Generative AI is a good tool for this since it can respond dynamically, creating new scenarios based on a learner’s performance and providing instant feedback on areas for improvement. Learners might use simulated scenarios to:

• Practice decision making under pressure

• Understand how to interact with different types of customers

• Learn interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution

5. Promotion of inclusive apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer a vital pathway for learners in underserved areas to access high-quality training and employment. 

However, the Social Mobility Commission found that higher level apprenticeships tend to be skewed towards learners from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Learners from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were not only less likely to secure apprenticeships, but those who were successful often secured entry-level placements in sectors with traditionally lower pay rates, such as health, education and hospitality.

With the spotlight on solving skills shortages and widening workforce participation in 2025, we expect to see more conversations about how apprenticeships and training can be more inclusive. 

Bud customer Debut Training is already doing some great work to promote inclusivity by providing kits for beauty learners to ensure an equal starting point, regardless of financial background. You can read the case study here. 

Sara Roberts, Senior Operating Officer at Kingdom Academy, also wrote an insightful article about the importance of recruiting and retaining older learners. Read it at FE Week here.

6. Flexible and responsive learning

Finally, the word underpinning many predictions for apprenticeships and training is “flexibility”. The days of rigid systems and curricula are long gone – flexibility will be crucial in 2025 to deliver against individual learner expectations and keep pace with employer requirements.

Look out for:

• Flexible enrolment questions that are customised by programme

• Curricula that cater to different learning speeds and styles

• Creative assignments that allow learners to use non-written formats like video to communicate their knowledge

• Reliance on real-time data to deliver targeted learner support

• AI-powered coaches to support learners who are studying outside of work hours

Set your business up for success in 2025 

Bud’s joined-up training management platform is designed to help providers create seamless learning experiences, optimise operations and drive compliance. From real-time reporting dashboards to time-saving AI tools, Bud can empower your team to deliver exceptional training outcomes in the new year.

Start your journey with Bud now – book a discovery call here.