With the Government’s 2025 Budget including a renewed £820 million ‘Youth Guarantee’ to support young people into training, apprenticeships, or jobs, there has never been a better time to build a career via an apprenticeship. Through the targetjobs Future Apprentice of the Year Awards, and partners like Howden, Group GTI are helping turn that policy momentum into real-world opportunities.
The targetjobs Future Apprentice of the Year Awards celebrate the UK’s most ambitious and talented students, the next generation of apprentices who are ready to learn, grow, and make a real impact. These awards recognise more than just grades. They shine a light on young people who combine curiosity, creativity, and collaboration with the skills and mindset employers are looking for.
Each award is run in partnership with a leading employer who offers exclusive prizes for the winners, from paid internships and global trips to unique learning experiences designed to kickstart a career.
Finalists for each category are invited to an exciting awards ceremony in February in Manchester, where we celebrate their achievements and announce the winners in style.
Employers confirmed this year include BAE Systems, EY, Rolls Royce, RSM and Tesco. Joining them is Howden, one of the largest insurance brokers in the UK and who are sponsoring the ‘Celebrating Social Mobility’ category.
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Kirk Southern, Group Chief People Office, Howden Group Holdings said:
"At Howden, we believe talent is everywhere but unfortunately opportunity often isn’t, and we’re determined to change that.”
For Howden, these awards are about creating opportunities for many young people and extending the impact well beyond individual winners. They’re going further by inviting the top 40 candidates to London for an immersive experience that offers far more than a standard insight programme.
“They will take part in real-world business simulations, interactive workshops, and have direct engagement with senior leaders from across the insurance industry. All costs covered. No barriers. Just opportunity. These experiences are designed to give every participant the practical skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed. We’re proud to play our part in levelling the playing field and helping the next generation of leaders build brighter futures.”
Howden are hiring 25 new joiners onto their Level 3 Apprenticeship Programme in Howden UK&I Retail into insurance broking, insurance claims, business operations, mortgages and financial planning, business applications, HR, digital marketing, finance, and project management.
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Rob Kennedy, CEO, Howden UK&I Retail, added:
"I’m proud that within my first 100 days as CEO of Howden UK&I Retail, we have launched an apprenticeship programme that makes the insurance industry appealing, accessible, and fairer for a diverse range of talent. Apprenticeships provide a practical alternative that lets young people earn while they learn, gain real-world experience, and start building a career from day one. Our year-long programme offers 25 roles across our five specialist pillars, designed to equip apprentices with everything they need for long, successful careers in the industry.
“We’ve made the process simple and inclusive: no CVs, just a skills-based approach that values potential over past experience. This is about opening doors, driving social mobility, and shaping the future of our industry."
You can see all of Howden’s live apprenticeship vacancies here: Early Careers
To apply to the in the Howden ‘Celebrating Social Mobility’ category, click here: Future Apprentice of the Year Celebrating Social Mobility
To review all targetjobs Future Apprentice of the Year awards categories, click here: Are you the next Future Apprentice of the Year?
