National Apprenticeship Week 9-15 February 2026

National Apprenticeship Week is a Government-run campaign which provides an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country, and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses and the wider economy. 

In 2026, the theme set by the Department for Education includes ‘Skills For Life’, which lies at the heart of our Let’s Talk Mental Wellbeing Programme for apprentices and college students. The programme aims to increase awareness of mental health and wellbeing, to instil a confidence amongst apprentices in knowing where to seek support themselves, and how to start and manage that difficult conversation about mental health in order to break down the stigma that surrounds it.

Find out about our Apprenticeship Programmes

When Is National Apprenticeship Week?

National Apprenticeship Week is taking place from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 February 2026.

Resources for National Apprenticeship Week 

At Mates in Mind, we work with organisations to create positive mental health in and through work, by providing the skills, clarity, and confidence to employers on how to raise awareness, improve understanding and end the stigma that surrounds mental health. 

This is why we have created a suite of resources to support organisations, not only during National Apprenticeship Week but all year round, to create a comprehensive and ongoing programme of support.

Please click on the link below to download a free A3 poster which you can share across your organisation.

Please also visit our Resources page where you can download a free Spotting the Signs infographic to help you identify if an apprentice, colleague, friend or family member may need, or want, to talk.

Visit our Resources page

Free and Confidential Support Services

If the information on this page has resonated with you, and if you or someone you know needs help or support, you can speak to one of the many free, confidential support services.

Why is National Apprenticeship Week important?

At Mates in Mind, we found that of 550 apprentices surveyed:

• 73% had felt stressed at least once in the previous week.
• Only 33% said their employer/colleague would notice signs of mental ill-health in others (the rest said no or unsure).
• 70% had NEVER taken part in any mental health training and yet 91% said they thought training would help them to manage their own mental health.
• Only 55% said they would reach out to someone if they were experiencing stress, depression or anxiety.

When young apprentices enter the workplace, there is awareness that they are at a heightened risk in terms of their own safety. But often, the risk in regard to their mental health is not considered.

This is why we advocate for embedding mental wellbeing training into all apprenticeships and new starter inductions, so that together we can prepare future workers, line managers and business owners, and create a legacy of wellbeing. By providing young people with the skills, knowledge and tools, they can help to build safer workplaces for themselves and others.

Employers

Supporting apprentices to become mentally resilient is important as it benefits the apprentice, their employer, their colleagues and the wider local community. For organisations sponsoring a college to deliver this programme there is also a benefit in terms of both Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). If you would like to find out more about:

• Our Apprenticeship Mental Wellbeing Programme, please visit the Let’s Talk Mental Wellbeing Programme page. 
• How to sponsor a college to deliver the programme, please fill in our Contact Us form.  

Further Reading on Mental Wellbeing

If you’d like to explore this topic in more detail, these articles may be helpful. You can find practical tips and guidance on eradicating the culture of silence and addressing the stigma around mental health in the workplace.

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Please sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be informed when we publish new campaign pages (like this one), new resources and new blogs in our ‘How to optimise your mental wellbeing’ series.

How We Can Support You

Mates in Mind can support your organisation to build a mental health plan and to create a culture of prevention.

Our dedicated team of Support Managers work with organisations of any size to develop a tailored action plan, evaluating your organisation's priorities and gaps, and providing the tools and support you need.

This plan includes ongoing support with communication and delivery of your plan, as well as training opportunities, promotional materials, and a suite of tools (including World Mental Health Day and World Suicide Prevention Day packs) to enable you to drive long-lasting and meaningful change.

Find out more about how we can help your organisation build a culture of prevention when you become a Supporter by:

• Visiting our Become a Supporter page
• Calling: 020 3510 5018
• Using our contact form

If you would like to know when we publish new resources, please complete the newsletter sign up at the bottom of this page.

Mates in Mind Supporters

We have additional materials available for our Supporters.

To download these materials please log in to the Supporter portal, and access your resources.

If you are not a Supporter but would like to find out more about our Programme please read on.