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Five major UK contractors have been ranked among the country’s best employers for apprenticeships, according to new government data.
Balfour Beatty, Bam, Kier, Mace and VolkerWessels UK were named in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list for 2025, which is compiled annually by the Department for Education (DfE) to recognise organisations with outstanding commitment to employing apprentices.
Balfour Beatty was the highest-ranked contractor in 30th place. The firm said in its most recent full-year accounts that apprentices comprise 7.3 per cent of its workforce.
Kier ranked 41st in the DfE list. Its 666 apprentices accounted for 6.5 per cent of the contractor’s overall workforce last year, and 120 new apprentices joined the firm, according to its most recent accounts.
The other tier one firms in the top 100 include Mace (66th), Bam UK & Ireland (75th) and VolkerWessels UK (89th).
They operate in an industry with an acknowledged labour shortage. According to the most recent outlook issued in June by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the sector requires 239,300 extra workers between now and 2029, the equivalent of an additional 47,860 per year.
The top 100 apprenticeship employers list is judged using data submitted by employers and an analysis of apprenticeship recruitment, retention, diversity and progression.
This year’s top-ranked employer overall was HMRC, followed by the Royal Navy and BT Group.