FAQS

HOW IS THE TABLE CALCULATED?

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers are both calculated based on a weighted algorithm that has been determined by the partner organisations:

The Department for Education and RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk.

Ranking factors are as follows:

• Total number of apprenticeship opportunities offered by the employer

• Number of different Levels of apprenticeship programmes run by the employer

• Total number of apprentices that completed their apprenticeship

• Diversity of apprentices

• Total number of reviews submitted by apprenticeship cohort on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk

  • Raw review score from reviews submitted between 1st June 2024 and 30th April 2025

  • Percentage of your apprenticeship cohort that have reviewed

  • Percentage of reviewers that would recommend the scheme (question nine of their review).

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE OF KEY DATES?

The timeline of key dates is as follows:

February 2025: Entry form is opened

30th April 2025: Entry form closes at 23:59

30th April 2025: Deadline for apprentice reviews on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk

May 2025: Entry form is now closed. Ranking is determined using the weighting criteria.

Summer 2025: Awards ceremony for The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers.

WHY APPRENTICESHIP REVIEWS?

Apprenticeship reviews on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk are a verifiable, authentic method of determining how many unique apprentices are in your cohort - and also offers a window into their experience on your apprenticeship programme.

As well as using these reviews for your ranking, encouraging these reviews from your cohort comes with a range of benefits including:

• Gaining valuable insights into your schemes from the people who really matter.

• Reduce the risk of reneged offers by encouraging applications from like-minded apprentices, informed by your reviews.

• Raise awareness of your brand with 16-24 year olds across England. 

HOW DO I ENCOURAGE MY APPRENTICES TO REVIEW THEIR EXPERIENCES? 

Once you’ve filled out the nomination form, you’ll be sent a link via email that explains the Apprenticeship review process in detail. We plant a tree for every new review on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk. You can also check out our “How To Encourage Reviews” document here .

WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR ENCOURAGING REVIEWS?

Some suggestions from our previous Top Apprenticeship Employers include:

• Make reviews part of the end-of-programme process to ensure a broad mix of responses.

• Offer incentives, such as prize draws or vouchers, and integrate reviews into key events like awards ceremonies.

• Create a dedicated time and space for reviews in the office, such as a “Rate and Cake” session.

• If apprentices are in demanding roles, align review collection with existing surveys or initiatives to boost engagement.

• Share the workload by dividing outreach among the team and involving managers to follow up with those who haven’t submitted a review.

You can also check out our “How To Encourage Reviews” document here (link coming soon).

I’VE NEVER HAD TO GET APPRENTICE REVIEWS ON RATEMYAPPRENTICESHIP BEFORE - WHAT DO I DO?

1. Guide Your Apprentices – Direct your apprentices to the RateMyApprenticeship website, where they can create a free account and complete a review. No need for you to create a company profile - the creation of a review will automatically generate a profile if you don’t already have one.

2. Encourage Participation – Explain why reviews are important, remind them their feedback is anonymous, and consider using incentives or dedicated review sessions.

Don’t Miss The Deadline - Remember that the deadline for your apprentices to leave reviews on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk is 30th April 2025.

WHY THE NEW RANKING SYSTEM?

The new ranking system has been devised by the Department for Education and RateMyApprenticeship in order to create a comprehensive guide for future apprentices. Building on the existing framework, the new rankings include additional criteria such as the number of programmes, diversity of apprentices, and quality of reviews on RateMyApprenticeship.co.uk, offering fresh insights into Apprenticeship Employers.

WHY DOES DIVERSITY OF APPRENTICES AFFECT MY RANK?

The Top Apprenticeship Employers aims to provide a well-rounded and dynamic picture of the apprenticeship landscape, showcasing employers who foster inclusive environments and provide opportunities for a wider range of talent. By considering the diversity of your apprenticeship cohort, we ensure that the rankings reflect employers who are committed to offering equal opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds. This approach ultimately strengthens the overall value and fairness of the rankings.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO GATHER THE DIVERSITY DATA?

Your HR team is likely to have this data, either from recruitment records, internal reporting, or HR systems. If your apprenticeships are delivered through a training provider, they may also hold relevant diversity information. Some organisations track this data for government reporting (e.g. ESFA or Ofsted), so checking past submissions may help. If there are gaps, an internal survey could provide additional insights. If in doubt, your HR team or training provider should be able to guide you.

HOW DO I NOMINATE MY COMPANY?

If you’re satisfied that you meet the eligibility criteria, you can nominate yourself to become a Top Apprenticeship Employer via this form:

This entry form closes at 23:59 on 30th April 2025.