LJ Construction Named Number 1 SME Apprenticeship Employers 2026

WE'RE THE NO. 1 SME APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYER IN ENGLAND!

We're delighted to share that LJ Construction has been named the No. 1 SME in the Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings.

To move from 23rd last year to 1st this year is an incredible achievement and one we're immensely proud of.

Delivered by the Government and Higherin, the Top Apprenticeship Employers rankings celebrate the very best apprenticeship employers in England. Employers are recognised for the quality of their apprenticeship programmes, their commitment to developing future talent, diversity, and the feedback provided by their apprentices.

This recognition is especially meaningful because it's built on the experiences of our apprentices themselves.

Each of our apprenticeship intakes has been oversubscribed by 3000% - a clear demonstration of both the demand for opportunities in construction and the importance of creating them.

Building one of the country's leading apprenticeship programmes doesn't happen overnight and it isn't easy. It requires significant investment, time, patience and the commitment of people across the entire business. But we firmly believe it's one of the most important investments we can make.

As our industry continues to face a skills shortage, we're committed to developing the next generation of skilled carpenters through The Carpentry Academy and providing genuine, long-term career opportunities.

A huge thank you to our Apprenticeship Manager, Kieron Sear, every mentor, supervisor and member of the LJ Construction team who gives their time to support our apprentices.

Most importantly, thank you to our apprentices. This award reflects your hard work, commitment and we're incredibly proud to be part of your journey.

Finally, thank you to all the housebuilders, whose projects continue to provide invaluable opportunities for apprentices to gain real-world experience and develop their skills.

Thank you to Apprenticeships and Skills and Higherin Apprenticeships for the recognition.

We look forward to seeing you at the House of Lords in September.

Here's the full list of Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026.