ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher Level Apprenticeships in Further Education: Academic year 2024/25
Date published:
The Department for the Economy has published statistical reports on ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher Level Apprenticeships in Further Education in Northern Ireland, academic year 2024/25.
ApprenticeshipsNI
This statistical report presents a range of analysis on ApprenticeshipsNI delivered in FE colleges and other training providers, covering provision across academic years 2019/20 to 2024/25. The analysis covers the characteristics of those participants starting ApprenticeshipsNI, the number of leavers and the number of leavers who obtained a Full Framework and the number of participants on course at the end of October 2025.
Key Points:
- ApprenticeshipsNI starts (7,305) decreased by 3% from 2023/24. The majority of starts – 3,336 (46%) were aged between 16 and 19 years.
- Over three-fifths (63%) of ApprenticeshipsNI starts were male; 4,621 males compared with 2,684 females.
- 59% of Level 2 leavers achieved a Full Framework while 61% of Level 2/3 and Level 3 combined achieved a Full Framework.
- There were 13,324 participants on ApprenticeshipsNI courses at the end of October 2025.
- Electrotechnical, Health and Social Care, and Engineering were the most popular Frameworks accounting for 37% of the ApprenticeshipsNI population at the end of October 2025.
This full publication, including associated tables and documents, is available on the DfE website.
Higher Level Apprenticeships in Further Education
This statistical report presents a range of analysis on HLAs delivered in FE colleges and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), covering provision up to academic year 2024/25. The analysis covers new starts, participation, performance and the characteristics of those enrolled on an HLA FE programme.
Key Points:
- 955 new HLA FE starts in 2024/25; the same number as recorded in 2023/24.
- Approximately one third of HLA FE starts were female in 2024/25, (330 females; 625 males).
- 2,120 students were enrolled on an HLA FE programme in 2024/25.
- Engineering and manufacturing technologies remained the top sector subject area; making up 36% (775) of all HLA participation in 2024/25.
- 95% success rate in 2024/25; 640 of the 675 final year students achieved their HLA qualification.
This full publication, including associated tables and documents, is available on the DfE website
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