The Science Apprenticeship Forum: Reflections on the 2025 Conference by Apprentices

Back for its third successive year, The Science Apprenticeship Conference is designed specifically for science apprentices and aims to connect apprentices and celebrate their sector-wide impact.

Supported by Innovate UK, the Science Council, and the Royal Society of Chemistry, this year’s event took place at the MTC, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, offering a day packed with workshops, networking and talks aligned to the conference theme for this year ‘Shaping Your Future’.

The Science Apprenticeship Forum, founded by Tyler Harvey-Cowlishaw RSci, plays an important role in supporting the UK’s talent pipeline. As Debbie Johnson, Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK, explains, apprenticeships are a critical part of this, and The Science Apprenticeship Forum helps bring Innovate UK closer to where apprentices are learning and advancing their careers.

The Forum was founded to ensure apprentices can shape the development of apprenticeship programmes themselves. Through networking events, workshops, webinars, and community discussions the Forum offers personal development opportunities. It creates space for apprentices to learn, connect, and share insights that feed directly into policy. Hearing from apprentices also helps strengthen the dialogue between providers, employers, endpoint assessments organisations, and supporting continuous improvement.

What difference the Science Apprenticeship Forum makes

For many apprentices, the Science Apprenticeship Forum provides a place to speak openly about what’s working well and what needs to change. It gives apprentices a voice with the people involved in decisions around apprenticeships and helps build a sense of community, particularly for those who may be the only apprentice in their workplace.

In addition, the Science Apprenticeship Forum provides mentoring and peer support, recognised as an important benefit for apprentices at all stages of their career growth. Find out what the apprentices had to say.

Thoughts on the conference

Without exception, the apprentices attending on the day of the conference, described it as a positive experience where they could meet peers from across the country, share perspectives, and learn from workshops.

The conference helped them to see the bigger picture behind the apprenticeship landscape and understand the organisations that are there to support them. The conference gave apprentices the opportunity to have a voice and feedback directly to those who can influence change, a huge benefit and highly valued by attendees.

Exploring an apprenticeship pathway

Reflecting on how apprenticeships offer a meaningful way to explore interests while gaining real experience, attendees spoke about how their apprenticeship journeys were broadening their perspectives, giving them the opportunity to meet different people and allowing them to step out of their comfort zones.

Many encouraged others to approach apprenticeships with an open mind.

Career ambitions through science apprenticeships

Apprentices shared how their projects and responsibilities are helping them to develop new skills and think more intentionally about their career path.

Learning from others’ experiences and working alongside industry professionals gives them valuable insights into the wider context of their fields. Many described their apprenticeship as a significant opportunity for growth.

What apprentices want employers to know

Apprentices stressed that they bring a wide range of skills, knowledge, and fresh perspectives. They encouraged employers to recognise the contribution apprentices can make by bringing new ideas, working hard, and helping to fill vital skills gaps.

The apprentices also highlighted that, by investing in apprentices, employers have the opportunity to shape the workforce of tomorrow.

The Science Apprenticeship Forum shows the value apprenticeships bring to individuals and employers alike. By giving apprentices, a platform to share their experiences and influence policy, the Forum supports their development while helping to strengthen the future workforce.